Coral reefs are the oldest and most primitive forms of life and are over 500 million years old. At 2,000 km from Bundaberg to the tip of Cape York and an area of approximately 350,000 sq km, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef system in the world. Between the outer edges and the mainland you can find more than than 2,000 islands and almost 3,000 separate reefs.
The Great Barrier Reef consists of thousands of separate reefs. It is fairly young since most of it formed after the sea level rose at the end of the last Ice Age. Coral cannot grow above the water line or below 30 metres therefore its growth id dependent on the sea level. When the sea level rises old coral turns to limestone and eventually new coral will build, thus forming a barrier reef. An outer reef system corresponds with Queenslands continental shelf. Reef systems nearer the mainland correspond with submerged hills.
During the last Ice Age, about 18,000 years ago, low waters exposed a range of forested hills. Coral then grew in these shallow waters. Later, around 9,000 years ago, the water level rose to submerge the hills. Coral then began to grow in new places. Coral formed walls on the continental shelf, during the following millennium, a collection of fringing and platform reefs, coral cays and lagoons formed around the former hills.
More than 2000 species of fish and innumerable species of hard and soft coral are found in the waters of Great Barrier Reef. The diversity of life forms is extraordinary and there is also a huge array of invertebrates such as the graceful sea slug, 12 species of sea grasses and 500 types of algae. Also in the water you can find Manta rays, potato Cod, Great White Sharks, Coral Groupers, Giant Clams, Moray eels and Clown anemone fish.
The reef islands are home to coloured variety of tropical birds. These birds use to the island for breeding and raising their young, as it is free from mainland predators such as cats and foxes. Gulls, gannets, frigate birds, shearwaters and terns all make use of this safe environment.
The Great Barrier Reef consists of thousands of separate reefs. It is fairly young since most of it formed after the sea level rose at the end of the last Ice Age. Coral cannot grow above the water line or below 30 metres therefore its growth id dependent on the sea level. When the sea level rises old coral turns to limestone and eventually new coral will build, thus forming a barrier reef. An outer reef system corresponds with Queenslands continental shelf. Reef systems nearer the mainland correspond with submerged hills.
During the last Ice Age, about 18,000 years ago, low waters exposed a range of forested hills. Coral then grew in these shallow waters. Later, around 9,000 years ago, the water level rose to submerge the hills. Coral then began to grow in new places. Coral formed walls on the continental shelf, during the following millennium, a collection of fringing and platform reefs, coral cays and lagoons formed around the former hills.
More than 2000 species of fish and innumerable species of hard and soft coral are found in the waters of Great Barrier Reef. The diversity of life forms is extraordinary and there is also a huge array of invertebrates such as the graceful sea slug, 12 species of sea grasses and 500 types of algae. Also in the water you can find Manta rays, potato Cod, Great White Sharks, Coral Groupers, Giant Clams, Moray eels and Clown anemone fish.
The reef islands are home to coloured variety of tropical birds. These birds use to the island for breeding and raising their young, as it is free from mainland predators such as cats and foxes. Gulls, gannets, frigate birds, shearwaters and terns all make use of this safe environment.
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