Importance of Biodiversity
What is the Great Barrier Reef?
Answered by
Planet Green
-
Planet Green
-
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest series of coral reefs and is located in the Coral Sea off of the northeastern coast of Australia. It is the largest living structure on the planet. It is visible from outer space and is considered one of the seven wonders of the natural world. This series of reefs is approximately 1,429 miles (2,300 kilometers) in length and covers 250,000 square miles (650,000 square kilometers) of sea floor.
The Great Barrier Reef is home to 400 species of coral. Just one reef in the series has more species of coral than the entire tropical area of the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, there are 2,000 species of fish, 4,000 mollusks and six types of sea turtles in the region. Other marine life that thrives along this system of reefs includes the flame angelfish, a variety of sharks and giant moray eels.
The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space in this satellite photo. You can see the diagonal lines of the reef along the right-hand side of the picture. (Photo courtesy NASA)
Still Curious?
-
How bad would the sixth mass extinction be?
Answered by Planet Green
-
What is the importance of studying ecology?
Answered by Planet Green
-
How do marine biologists choose research projects?
Answered by John O'Sullivan
