The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world and one of Australia’s most remarkable natural gifts. Composed of over 2,900 individual reef and 900 islands, it covers and area of 133,000 square miles (344,400 sq km), longer than the Great Wall in China.

Located off the coast of Queensland in Australia and stretching all the way to Bundaberg, the Great Barrier Reef is so big that it can be seen from outer space.

It was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981 due to its abundance and diverse marine life, with 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of mollusc, making it one of the richest and most complex ecosystems on the planet, considered as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

All this combined makes the Great Barrier Reef one of the most spectacular marine sceneries you can experience, from colorful reefs and corals to hundred of animals and plants, like turtles and crocodiles, presumed to be there since prehistoric times.

The reef has become one of the world’s favorite tourist destinations, attracting millions of visitors thanks to its beauty and the many activities it offers: snorkeling, scuba diving, aerial tours, bare boats, glass-bottomed boat viewing, cruises, whale watching and more.

Growing concern on the preservation of the Great Barrier Reef has increased over the years, leading to more control on illegal fishing and many other threatening activities like oil drilling. Climate change is also a threat to the survival of this amazing ecosystem. Nowadays the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (declared in 1975) is responsible for the supervision and conservation of this natural wonder.

The Great Barrier Reef offers the opportunity to diverse type of adventure, for all types of traveler, and it’s a must if you are visiting Australia.
Incredible natural beauty above and below the water.