Great Barrier Reef

Perhaps Australia’s greatest treasure, the Great Barrier Reef, lies off the coast of Queensland. It is made up of millions of tiny living organisms known as corals. It is the largest coral reef on earth and extends over 23,000 square kilometers. It attracts thousands of tourists each year. There are numerous distinctive features of this vast ecosystem. Here are ten of the most interesting:

The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space.

The Great Barrier Reef is the only living thing that can be identified with the naked eye from open space. It has been seen from low earth orbit such as from the Space Shuttle and the Space Station. Further out in space it cannot be located. Astronauts have spotted a multitude of algal blooms which could in time seriously impact the reef’s health.