THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

As the largest living structure on the planet, the Great Barrier Reef is incredibly rich and diverse, stretching 2,300 kilometres. The surrounding reef on Lady Elliot Island is a ‘Green Zone’ which is home to the most diverse, colourful and intriguing marine animal and reef life.

The Great Barrier Reef is also unique as it extends over 14 degrees of latitude, from shallow estuarine areas to deep oceanic waters. Within this vast expanse are a unique range of ecological communities, habitats and species – all of which make the Reef one of the most complex natural ecosystems in the world.

INTERESTING FACTS

  • Covers over 344,400km2 in area
  • Is the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem
  • Includes some 3,000 coral reefs, 600 continental islands, 300 coral cays and about 150 inshore mangrove islands
  • Extends south from the northern tip of Queensland in north-eastern Australia to just north of Bundaberg
  • Is between 60 and 250 kilometres in width
  • Has an average depth of 35 metres in its inshore waters, while on outer reefs, continental slopes extend down to depths of more than 2,000 metres
  • Extends into the airspace above and into the earth beneath the seabed

For more GBR information see http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/the-reef

For the kids! Try the Great Barrier Reef Foundations kids app ‘Love the Reef’ Love the Reef is an educational, game-based app for primary school children which inspires a love of the Great Barrier Reef and empowers children to enhance their environmental citizenship.

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/love-the-reef/id1394019148

GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK

The Great Barrier Reef is protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park which was created in 1975. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is the key management agency for the Great Barrier Reef.

For more information about GBR Marine Park Management and Zoning see http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/access-and-use/zoning/about-zoning