The Beauty of the Great Barrier Reef

The vastness of the Great Barrier Reef is such that it is the only living thing on earth that can be seen from outer space, as far away as the moon. Of course from way up there they can not possibly see the beauty that we can here first hand.

The Great Barrier Reef is regarded as one of the seven wonders of the modern world. It dates back 240 million years and is definitely one of the highlights of any trip to Australia.

All reefs are similar but can vary greatly. They fall into three categories;

Fringing reefs- which are around edges of continental islands, that at one time were part of the mainland.

Ribbon or outer reefs: barrier reefs that grow on the edge of the continental shelf.

Platform or patch reefs: which support a cay, or an island formed with debris swept onto the reef.

Here are some facts that you may not know about the Great Barrier Reef.

There are 600 continental islands and 350 coral cays that are spread throughout the reef.

Approximately 3400 individual reefs make up the Great Barrier Reef.

Did you know that the Great Barrier Reef was declared World Heritage on October 26, 1981?

To put everything into perspective, the expanse of the reef is approximately 2300 kilometers (1430 miles). It expands from close to Fraser Island located off the coast of Queensland Australia to the Papua New Guinean coastline.

Did you have any idea the not all coral is hard? In fact, some are soft with a spongy texture.

Lastly, tourism is the main industry in the reef, generating more than 1 billion Australian dollars a year.

The islands of the Great Barrier Reef are two types, continental and coral cay. With the landmass that can contain almost seven Britain's, five Japans and almost half the size of Texas; there is much to see!

Australia contains nearly 1/5 of the world's reefs; most of which is in the Great Barrier Reef. All reefs form where the temperatures don't fall below 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit) for long periods of time, so they are usually found between 30 degrees north and south of the equator. They require extreme saline water and the water should be very clear so the light penetrates.

Now, let's talk about some of the reef's sea life which is quite interesting and bountiful! Its ecosystem can support the largest concentration of life on this planet with its marine life.

This includes 2800 species of fish, 4,000 species of mollusks and 10,000 species of sponges.

Humpback whales migrate here to breed, sea turtles, dugong, (belongs to the manatee family), and over 215 different species of birds. There are 15 species of sea snakes, 6 species of sea turtles, and giant clams over 120 years old. It has hundreds of species of algae, including 500 species of seaweed that also live on the reef as a vital part of the reef system.

Majestic creatures, one being the humpback whale, spend the winters playing, feeding, and breeding close to the reef. Did you know that they can grow to more than 15 meters (45 feet) in length? Tourists love it when the whales dance and perform along side of the boats. They make an impressive display with huge tail flukes.

Another friendly marine mammal that enjoys playing in schools is the bottlenose dolphin. They ride the bow waves of the boats. Both the dolphins and whales are now a protected species.

Another interesting inhabitant is the sea turtle. Did you know that their babies do not have a sex when they are laid? The sand temperatures they are laid in determine their sex. Sand with a temperature of more than 27 degrees C (80 degrees F) produces more females. Cooler temperatures produce more males!

The Great Barrier Reef in all its immensity still falls prey to a new threat, Global Warming; which is called (white death). Warmer sea temperatures are causing this severe coral disease. This should offer a dire warning about global warming and its impact on the world's reefs. They are definitely in trouble.

Global warming has caused a coral disease called white syndrome that has affected more than 1500 kilometers (over 930 miles) of the reef.

Two years ago, unusually hot waters spread into areas of Australia and the Caribbean Sea. It was these hot waters that are to blame for a massive surge of coral bleaching, a condition that turns corals white. In some locations, scientists found a 25-30% loss of coral and corals that were centuries old were killed.

This phenomenon, called coral bleaching, turns coral white and eventually it dies. In 2002 the frequency of this disease increased twenty fold, after this region had seen its second warmest summer.

Many corals were affected, a number of them were important reef building corals that construct the limestone foundation on which coral polyps live.

Oddly enough the healthiest reefs suffered the most severe disease outbreaks. This could be contributed to the fact that they have the more dense concentrations of coral polyps. Scientists report that about a quarter of the world's coral has already been permanently lost and another 30% could possibly disappear over the next 30 years. This can not go on or we will lose one of the most beautiful places on this earth!

The Great Barrier Reef is a Wonderful place to dive or snorkel.

This is the world's largest underwater preserve, which makes it a diver's heaven. It is home to 1,000 varieties of fish and hundreds of types of coral. Not to mention all the sea life such as; sea turtles, dugong, dolphins, sea snakes, rays, and whales. The list goes on and on.

There are more than 5,000 different dive sites across the reef's islets and cays.

You can visit sites like Cod Hole, where you can see up close the potato cod, which grows to the size of small cars.

Osprey's Reef, which is famous for its underwater walls. While you are there you can visit the resident hammerhead and grey whaler sharks if you dare.

Ribbon Reef, where you can catch a glimpse of the deadly but beautiful scorpion fish. Minke Whales can also be seen in the months of June and July.

The oceans here are crystal clear; which will give you the advantage of seeing everything and anything that your heart desires.

So, whether you are snorkeling, diving or just swimming, the beautiful Great Barrier Reef is the place to be. I hope you decide to visit soon and drink in all the beauty!

This article barely touches on all the beauty of The Great Barrier Reef. To drink in all its beauty, like the saying goes, "Seeing is believing", so go visit at your earliest convenience.

But be aware of the dangers, and they do exist. Caution and common sense will keep you safe.

A series of articles are in the works about the Dangers and Beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, so keep an eye out. They will educate you and if you every visit the Great Barrier Reef, keep you safe as well!