Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2300 km mi over an area of approximately 344400 km2 mi2. The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia, separated from the coast by a channel 100 mi km flip wide in places and over 200 ft m flip deep. The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world's biggest single structure made by living organisms. This reef structure is composed of and built by billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps. It supports a wide diversity of life and was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981. Quotes Flowers turned to stone! Not all the botanyOf Joseph Banks, hung pensive in a porthole,Could find the Latin for this loveliness,Could put the Barrier Reef in a glass boxTagged by the horrid Gorgon squintOf horticulture. Stone turned to flowersIt seemed—you’d snap a crystal twig,One petal even of the water-garden,And have it dying like a cherry-bough. ... [T]here were more shoals outsideThan teeth in a shark’s head. Kenneth Slessor, "Five Visions of Captain Cook" (1931), II External links Category:Geography of Australia Category:Ecology Category:Queensland