7The+Great+Barrier+Reef

__** The Great Barrier Reef **__ The Great Barrier Reef is one of the 7 most amazing natural wonders of the world. It is located off the east coast of Australia, the smallest continent in the world. It is the largest coral reef system in the world, stretching over 1,250 miles. The Great Barrier Reef is located in the Coral Sea, which is part of the Pacific Ocean. This treasure under the sea is approximately 8,000 years old, with origins dating back to 18 million years. Incredibly, this reef can be seen from the moon! Besides being an amazing natural wonder, the reef is also listed as a World Heritage Site because of its significance and universal value.

This awesome natural wonder consists of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands, that are home to numerous plants, animals, and sea life. Amazingly, this reef was built by billions of tiny living animals, known as Coral polyps, making it the largest structure made by organisms. The animals that live at the Great Barrier Reef include: 30 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises, 125 species of shark, stingrays, skates or chimera, 6 sea turtles, 1,500 fish, 5,000 species of molluscs, and more. Humpback whales and a few endangered species, including the Dugong (Sea Cow) and large, Green Sea Turtle, breed in the reef. This is also the place where 1.4-1.7 million birds come to breed. For hundred kinds of coral add color to the reef, and when they die, the skeletons create walls that have reached up to 328 feet high. Lastly, the 2,195 plant species add beautiful shapes under the sea.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the 7 most amazing natural wonders of the world. With origins dating back to 18 million years, able to be seen from Earth's orbit (the moon), and built by billions of tiny organisms are a few reasons why this reef is considered one of the 7 most amazing natural wonders of the world. The reef is also incredible because it has many colorful coral that sparkle and glitter, it has sea animals such as shark, fish, and molluscs that live in harmony, and it has spectacular plants that add beauty under the sea. The Great Barrier Reef is truly something spectacular and clearly a wonder, and it should be enjoyed and preserved for the next 18 million years!

. Pictures This is a picture of the location of the Great Barrier Reef, in Australia!!!

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTrGST3fLic&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTrGST3fLic&feature=related