The Great Barrier The Great Barrier ReefReef

By: Matt K.By: Matt K.

The Largest Coral Reef The Largest Coral Reef

in the World in the World

Where in the World?Where in the World?

• The Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef is located off the is located off the northeastern coast of northeastern coast of Australia and it Australia and it stretches 1,250 miles.stretches 1,250 miles.

• Some of the reef is Some of the reef is visible from above visible from above water, but most of its water, but most of its beauty is visible from beauty is visible from underwater.underwater.

What in the World?What in the World?• There are many There are many

different kinds of coral. different kinds of coral. There is hard coral and There is hard coral and soft coral.soft coral.

• A reef is made up of A reef is made up of coral, which are tiny coral, which are tiny organisms that grow, organisms that grow, harden, and die. But harden, and die. But then new coral grows on then new coral grows on top of that and the cycle top of that and the cycle repeats for a very long repeats for a very long time. time.

• Fish and other animals Fish and other animals come to live by the reef. come to live by the reef.

Life in The ReefLife in The Reef

• There are 1,500 species of fish such There are 1,500 species of fish such as clown fish, triggerfish, coral trout, as clown fish, triggerfish, coral trout, cuttlefish, red bass, and snappers.cuttlefish, red bass, and snappers.

• There are 600 species of There are 600 species of echinoderms such as starfish, sea echinoderms such as starfish, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers.urchins, and sea cucumbers.

• There are 360 different types of hard There are 360 different types of hard and soft coral.and soft coral.

Life in The Reef (continued)Life in The Reef (continued)

• There are also other unique sea There are also other unique sea species that live on the reef, such as species that live on the reef, such as nudibranch, anemones, snails, nudibranch, anemones, snails, seahorses, flatworms, and pipefish.seahorses, flatworms, and pipefish.

• Some other species that visit the reef Some other species that visit the reef seasonally are bottlenose dolphins, seasonally are bottlenose dolphins, dwarf minke whales, sea turtles, and dwarf minke whales, sea turtles, and porpoises.porpoises.

Tourism / SnorkelingTourism / Snorkeling

• The Great Barrier The Great Barrier Reef is very popular Reef is very popular for tourism and a for tourism and a very popular activity very popular activity is snorkeling.is snorkeling.

• Snorkeling is a very Snorkeling is a very good way to see the good way to see the coral and marine life coral and marine life in the reef. in the reef.

• And it’s lots of fun!And it’s lots of fun!

Tourism/scuba divingTourism/scuba diving

• Another popular Another popular activity is scuba activity is scuba diving.diving.

• Scuba diving is Scuba diving is another way of another way of seeing the reef.seeing the reef.

• It gives you a better It gives you a better look at the reef at a look at the reef at a lower depth.lower depth.

Protecting The ReefProtecting The Reef

• The coral in The Great Barrier Reef is very The coral in The Great Barrier Reef is very fragile. Snorkelers and scuba divers should fragile. Snorkelers and scuba divers should not touch any coral because it could kill the not touch any coral because it could kill the coral.coral.

• Human sweat and sun tan lotion that comes Human sweat and sun tan lotion that comes off of people can also damage the coral.off of people can also damage the coral.

• The exhaust from boats and ships is bad for The exhaust from boats and ships is bad for the coral, they also have to stay clear from the coral, they also have to stay clear from any coral.any coral.

• An oil spill from a ship would do a lot of An oil spill from a ship would do a lot of damage to the coral and marine life.damage to the coral and marine life.

Fun FactsFun Facts

• The Great Barrier Reef is the only natural The Great Barrier Reef is the only natural structure that you can see from space.structure that you can see from space.

• Full grown coral will eat baby coral.Full grown coral will eat baby coral.

• If you cut yourself on coral and you don’t If you cut yourself on coral and you don’t clean it, the coral will grow inside your clean it, the coral will grow inside your skin.skin.

• The Great Barrier Reef can only live in The Great Barrier Reef can only live in water 68 degrees Farenheit or higher.water 68 degrees Farenheit or higher.

Fun Facts (continued)Fun Facts (continued)

• The reef’s origin dates back to the last ice The reef’s origin dates back to the last ice age.age.

• Taking coral from the reef is illegal.Taking coral from the reef is illegal.• Giant clams live in The Great Barrier Reef, Giant clams live in The Great Barrier Reef,

too. A pearl from a giant clam sold for too. A pearl from a giant clam sold for $10,000,000.$10,000,000.

• As recently as April 4, 2010, a Chinese As recently as April 4, 2010, a Chinese cargo ship hit a portion of The Great cargo ship hit a portion of The Great Barrier Reef, and caused a 2-ton oil leak. Barrier Reef, and caused a 2-ton oil leak.

The EndThe End

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The Great Barrier The Great Barrier ReefReef

By: Matt K.By: Matt K.