What is the 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. It is located off the northeast coast of Australia in the Coral Sea. The reef system covers an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometers.

Definition: A coral reef is a large underwater structure made of the skeletons of tiny marine animals called coral polyps.

The Great Barrier Reef is divided into five main sections:

1. Far Northern Section
2. Northern Section
3. Cairns Section
4. Central Section
5. Southern Section

Highlight: The Great Barrier Reef is so large it can be seen from space and is often considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Wildlife in the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is home to an incredibly diverse array of marine life:

• Over 1,500 species of fish
• 411 types of hard coral
• 134 species of sharks and rays
• 6 of the world's 7 species of threatened marine turtles
• More than 30 species of marine mammals

Notable animals include:

• Clownfish
• Green Turtles
• Manta Rays
• Dugongs
• Whale Sharks
• Giant Clams
• Giant Tritons
• Blanket Octopuses

Highlight: The Great Barrier Reef's biodiversity is one of the reasons it's considered so important for global marine ecosystems.