The Great Barrier Reef, one of the world's natural wonders, stretches over 2,300 kilometers along the northeast coast of Australia. This marine park, known for its vibrant underwater ecosystem, is home to thousands of species of marine life, including colorful coral, fish, turtles, and sharks. Its sheer size makes it visible from space and a must-visit for nature lovers. The reef plays a crucial role in the marine environment, offering a habitat for a diverse range of sea life and protecting the coastline from erosion. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, it draws attention to the importance of preserving our natural world for future generations. Visitors to the Great Barrier Reef can enjoy snorkeling, diving, and boat tours, experiencing its beauty up close and learning about its delicate ecosystem and the importance of its conservation.
See the location of Great Barrier Reef on Australia Map, the largest coral reef system in the world.
Great Barrier Reef Latitude and Longitude
The Great Barrier Reef is located in Australia. It stretches along the northeast coast of Queensland. The latitude of the Great Barrier Reef is about 18 degrees South, and the longitude is around 147 degrees East. This location means the reef is in the Coral Sea, near the Pacific Ocean. The Great Barrier Reef is very large. It's the biggest coral reef system in the world. It's famous for its beautiful corals and diverse marine life. People visit from all over the world to see its beauty. It's important for the environment and for tourism in Australia.
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is in Australia. It's the biggest coral reef in the world. This reef has more than 2,900 smaller reefs and 900 islands. It is over 2,300 kilometers long and covers about 344,400 square kilometers. The reef is in the Coral Sea, off Queensland's coast. It's so big, you can see it from space! This huge reef is made by lots of small creatures called coral polyps. Many different animals live here. The reef was chosen as a World Heritage Site in 1981.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park protects a lot of the reef. This helps control fishing and tourism. The reef faces problems like pollution, climate change, and harmful starfish. These issues hurt the coral. Since 1985, the reef has lost a lot of its coral.
People have known about the reef for a long time, especially the Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders. It's special to their culture. Many tourists visit the reef, especially near the Whitsunday Islands and Cairns. Tourism is important here and makes over AUD$3 billion a year.
Sadly, the reef is facing challenges. Coral bleaching is happening more because the ocean is getting warmer. This damages the reef. In 2016 and 2017, big parts of the reef were affected. The number of baby corals is also dropping. This could change the reef a lot.
Every five years, a report comes out about the reef's health. The last one was in 2019. In 2022, there was another big bleaching event. Scientists are worried about the reef's future.
But there's some good news. In 2022, the Australian Institute of Marine Science said the reef is recovering well. A type of coral called Acropora is helping a lot. This shows the reef can still bounce back.
