Learn all about the Great Barrier Reef

The world’s first barrier reefs were made about 500 million years ago! The Great Barrier Reef is quite young as it is only 500,000 years old.

You can find the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea which is off the coast of Queensland, North Eastern Australia.

The reef was built with billions of tiny organisms, which are known as coral polyps.

Every year 6 species of turtle come to the reef to breed. These are the green sea turtle, leatherback sea turtle, hawksbill turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, flatback turtle, and the olive ridley.

There are 2 different groups of green sea turtles on the Great Barrier Reef. One lives on the north part of the reef and the other on the south.

Around 125 species of shark, stingray and skates live on the Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef attracts birds too; around 215 species come to the reef or nest on its islands.

The Great Barrier Reef is home to more than 1,500 species of fish!

A large part of the reef is protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. This means that it is protected from too much human contact which comes from tourism, pollution and too much fishing.

There are 400 coral species on the reef. A lot of these corals release thousands of eggs during certain times of the year. This is controlled by sea temperature.

The Great Barrier Reef has been named as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. It is the world’s largest reef system and can be seen from outer space!