GREAT BARRIER REEF
AUSTRALIA
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The living turquoise mosaic that is the
Great Barrier Reef runs parallel to the
Queensland coast for almost 2500 km from the
northern tip of Cape York to just north of
Bundaberg in the south.. Access to the reef
is just metres from the coast while in
others it is far out to sea. Port Douglas is
a well-known gateway to the reef.
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest
tropical coral reef system in the world. At
348,000km², the Great Barrier Reef is the
world’s largest World Heritage Area and the
biggest tropical marine reserve.
The Great Barrier Reef comprises about 2900
separate reefs off the coast of the islands
and the mainland and barrier reefs facing
the sea. The Outer Reef lies along the edge
of the Australian Continental Shelf.
Reefs are masses of limestone made from
skeletons of millions upon millions of tiny
marine animals and plants. Colonies of tiny,
living coral polyps grow on a reef’s
surface. These animals are the main reef
builders. When coral polyps die, their
limestone skeletons and the remains of other
animals and plants are added to the
framework of the reef. There are some 360
species of hard corals and 4000 species of
mollusc.
Tigers and sharks are the marine ‘dinosaurs’
of the reef. Turtles have been swimming
around in its waters for 150 million years
while sharks have been around for 400
million years. 6 of the world’s 7 species of
marine turtles and 125 species of sharks and
rays swim the reef. 1500 of the world’s
13,000 species of marine fish live there
(over 10%).
There are over 600 species of echinoderms
(starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers), 500
species of seaweed, 200 species of birds and
14,000 dugongs.
Imagine you could dive on the world's
largest marine park every day for the rest
of your life and still not see it all!
This is truly where the reef meets the
rainforest.
CONTACT US
direct to book a cruise that departs daily
from the Port Douglas marina taking guests
to the inner or outer reefs for diving,
snorkelling, sailing or just enjoying the
cruise.
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