6+Great+Barrier+Reef

__Great Barrier Reef__ Jenny Z



The long, black line along the right side of Queensland, Australia is the Great Barrier Reef.

 __Great Barrier Reef__  The Great Barrier Reef is a beautiful and colorful string of more than 2,900 coral reefs stretching along the northeast coast of Australia. It is about 2000 kilometers long, and is the largest coral formation in the world. A coral reef is a type of underwater environment shaped by limestone formations. Coral reefs are actually made up of little organisms called coral polyps. Many species of underwater creatures and plants live in the Great Barrier Reef. There are over 1,500 species of fish, over 4,000 species of mollusk, and about 400 species of coral. Most of the reef lies below the sea. The Great Barrier Reef is the biggest natural wonder in the world- it is as big as 70 million football fields!  The Great Barrier Reef is threatened by oil spills, bleaching, over-fishing, overuse by humans, and the Crown of Thorns sea star which is eating the coral. Bleaching is when high water temperatures cause coral species to lose their color and die. This is mostly caused by global warming. Scientists think that bleaching will reduce diversity among corals and animals that depend on them. Because of the Crown of Thorns sea star and the other threats, the growth of the coral has fallen since 1990 to its lowest rate in 400 years. In addition, the population of sharks, turtles, and other sea mammals has gone down due to pollution and oil spills. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority works to protect the reef from these threats.  Water around the reefs is warm and clear. The water temperature often reaches 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Marine biologists and photographers explore the reef. They have discovered that coral reefs are formed from dead coral skeletons that come together, and that the Great Barrier Reef was probably formed about 6,000 to 10,000 years ago.  The Australian government has declared the Great Barrier Reef a National Park, so it is illegal to pollute the reef and go fishing there. If you are caught doing either of these things, you will be fined and even put into jail! The reefs protect coastlines, and are a vital source of food and shelter to plants and animals that may be able to cure diseases. The Great Barrier Reef is also a very beautiful and marvelous wonder. For these reasons, we should protect the reef so that it can serve nature and can be enjoyed by undersea explorers for years to come.  