The Hearth Island
Near the northeastern coast of Australia, close to Queensland in the Coral Sea stretches the largest system of coral reefs on Earth with name Great Barrier Reef. Is known as the Great Barrier Reef.The length of the Great Barrier Reef is about 2600 km. And its width varies between 2 and 150 km. It consists of about 900 islands, the whole area, which occupies about 344,400 km.
The waters of the Great Barrier Reef habitat and are home to thousands of species of tropical fish, birds, dolphins, turtles and giant clams. Some species are endemic, found only here.Great Barrier Reef is the place where breeding humpback whales migrating from Antarctica and the habitat of endangered species such as manatees and green sea turtle.
In 1981 the Great Barrier Reef is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here is found the smallest vertebrate life form on Earth - small fish Schindleria brevipinguis, which weighs only 1 milligram, and the length reaches 7-8 mm.
Great Barrier Reef is a wonder of the world and is a wonderful fat to visit. One can not fully imagine its beauty until you go and see him with his eyes.
Although called the "Great Barrier Reef," it actually consists of around 2600 different reefs. Great Barrier Reef is 2000 km long and starts a little south of the Tropic of Capricorn. It stretches along the coast of Queensland, just north of Bundaberg to northern Queensland and Torres Strait. Due to reefs and incredible scenic beauty, the Great Barrier Reef was declared a World Heritage in 1981.
The Great Barrier Reef is called "barrier" because it is outside reef, located in the Australian mainland shelf and the ocean bed between the shore and the reef reaches 60 meters in depth.
Coral reefs are at about 18 million years. They are composed of polyps, which are marine animals of the family Cindaria. When they die, their remains turn white (it is known whether a coral is alive or dead), and later on they develop new polyps.
Great Barrier Reef offers 400 different types of coral and a variety of fish, shellfish and other marine life. The islands are famous for its birds and turtles.
There are few dangerous animals in the reef. Although some sharks are found, they rarely attack tourists. The real danger comes from the corals themselves (if you touch them, you can cut, and to damaged skin), fish, jellyfish and scorpions.
In the Great Barrier Reef are a number of islands that offer something unique and special visitors. South of the reef islands are Jeans, Keppel, Hinchinbruk and others.To the north are 300 sand reef that formed when the Great Barrier Reef is above sea level, and make waves in the coral sand. Sand reefs include Green Island, Heron Island and Low Isles.
If you visit the Great Barrier Reef, it has really nothing to see there. Although some tourists rent a boat with glass bottom semi-submarine boat, the best way to enjoy the beauty of a reef dive. Even if you feel brave enough or prepared for something like this, try. The view really worth.
Origin of the Great Barrier Reef can be traced to the last glacial period when the continental shelf is shaping beaches, dunes and islands. Scientists calculate the age of nearly 18 million years.
The reef is composed of many coral polyps, which resemble in appearance, color colored rocks, but are actually living organisms. They consist of a soft body enclosed in an external skeleton. Already on the skeletons of dead organisms are formed and grow new live.
Great Barrier Reef is the only living thing can be seen from space. He is bigger than the Great Wall of China and is believed to contain between 350 and 400 different coral species.
In recent years, the reef is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. Crystal clear waters, ideal conditions for diving and fishing attract millions of tourists each year. However this creates problems for the reef. Fishing is now banned, and many environmental organizations urge to restrict visits by tourists and be allowed to attend only part of the Great Barrier Reef system and to reduce human impact in the region.
For normal growth of the corals are needed some special conditions - the water is salty and clean, the temperature does not drop below 17.5 C and the depth is not more than 30 meters. Incredible view a reproduction of karate, which occurs in late spring / early summer and is often called 'underwater snowstorm'.
