25 Places to visit before you die: No. 6 The Great Barrier Reef

For many, seeing a wild Kangaroo would be reason enough to travel down-under, but it is the world's largest coral reef system, the Great Barrier Reef, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, which is a must for inclusion on afterabc's list of, 25 Places to visit before you die.

Australia is incredibly diverse, not just the land of semi arid or desert habitats imagined by many outsiders but also alpine heaths and tropical rainforests. The diversity and uniqueness of Australia's biota is phenomenal; more than 80% of its flowering plants and mammals are endemic, and not perhaps contra to our imagination Australia's 755 reptile species makes Australia the 'reptile capital of the world'. 

The Great Barrier Reef marine park is huge, made up of nearly 3,000 reefs and 900 islands and stretches over 3,000km (1,800 miles) almost parallel to the Queensland coast, northeast Australia, from near the coastal town of Bundaberg, up past the tip of Cape York. The Reef, between 15 kilometres and 150 kilometres off shore and around 65 Km wide in some parts, is a gathering of brilliant, vivid coral and is the only living thing on Earth visible from space.

The structure of the Great Barrier Reef is believed to be between 6,000 to 8,000 years old, (the remains of an older barrier reef can be found in The Kimberley, Western Australia), and is composed of, and built by, billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps.

The Great Barrier Reef supports a diversity of life, including many vulnerable or endangered species, some of which are thought to be endemic to the Reef system. The Reef is home to over 400 different kinds of coral, 5,000 species of molluscs, over 1,500 species of tropical fish, including, forty-nine species of pipefish and nine species of seahorse. More than 200 types of birds, including the white-bellied sea eagle and roseate tern, live on the Islands, as do around 20 types of reptiles including sea turtles and giant clams. 

The Great Barrier Reef is a breeding area for humpback whales, migrating from the Antarctic and is also the habitat of a few endangered species including the Dugong (Sea Cow), and large Green Sea Turtle. (Five other breeds of turtle come to the Reef to breed -  leatherback sea turtle, hawksbill turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, flatback turtle, and the olive ridley). There are also rays and dolphins, sharks and seventeen species of sea snake live on the Reef. At least seven species of frog can be found on the islands.  

The islands of the Great Barrier Reef also support 2,195 known plant species; three of which are endemic. There are at least 330 species of ascidians found on the reef system, ranging in size from 1 mm-10 cm (0.04-4 in) in diameter, and, between 300-500 species of bryozoans.

The Great Barrier Reef is a diver's paradise, however, for those who haven't found their flippers there are plenty of qualified instructors along the coast that will help you log your first hours under-water.  For those not keen to scuba dive snorkelling will offer great views. Alternately, there are numerous tours in glass bottomed boats that with the clear waters still provide a fabulous glimpse of this most remarkable undersea world.

The best place to stay is arguably, Lady Elliot Island, one of only six island resorts and one of only three with direct flight access to the island airstrip. Lady Elliot is an island teeming with life and live corals, famous for a resident population of 40 Manta Rays.

The Great Barrier Reef is a mind-boggling underwater experience, not to be missed.

Information: The Great Barrier Reef and Global Warming & other threats.

January 23, 2010  |  Article Posted By: afterabc admin , London
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