Did you know... 10 facts about the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is a unique ecosystem; home to thousands of species of marine life, including fish, whales, dolphins, and six of the world’s seven species of marine turtle.
These are ten facts about the Great Barrier Reef, courtesy of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and accompanied by photography from Gary Cranitch.
1.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the world.
2.
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on the planet, so big it’s visible from space.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the world.
2.
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on the planet, so big it’s visible from space.
3.
The World Heritage Listed area spans 348,000 km2, which is slightly more than the 344,400 km2 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park area because it also includes some 980 islands, internal waters, intertidal areas and other state waters.
4.
There are 980 individual islands within the
Reef
The World Heritage Listed area spans 348,000 km2, which is slightly more than the 344,400 km2 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park area because it also includes some 980 islands, internal waters, intertidal areas and other state waters.
4.
There are 980 individual islands within the
Reef
5.
The outer reefs have a depth of 2,000 metres.
The outer reefs have a depth of 2,000 metres.
6.
7% of the Reef’s World Heritage area is made up of coral reefs. The rest is an extraordinary variety of marine habitats ranging from shallow inshore areas – such as seagrass, mangroves, sand, algal and sponge gardens, and inter-reefal communities – to deep oceanic areas more than 250 km offshore.
7% of the Reef’s World Heritage area is made up of coral reefs. The rest is an extraordinary variety of marine habitats ranging from shallow inshore areas – such as seagrass, mangroves, sand, algal and sponge gardens, and inter-reefal communities – to deep oceanic areas more than 250 km offshore.
7.
The Reef is home to 1,625 species of fish
(That’s 10% of the world’s fish species!)
The Reef is home to 1,625 species of fish
(That’s 10% of the world’s fish species!)
8.
There are 3,000 individual reefs, 300 coral
cays, 150 inshore mangrove islands.
There are 3,000 individual reefs, 300 coral
cays, 150 inshore mangrove islands.
9.
The Reef was world heritage listed in 1981.
10.
70 million football fields would inside the marine park!
The Reef was world heritage listed in 1981.
10.
70 million football fields would inside the marine park!
Our pledge
The Great Barrier Reef is a world we want to see protected, preserved and loved for generations to come.
Each item sold from our High Summer 2024 Collection supports the preservation of the Great Barrier Reef, with our pledge to donate $1 for every item sold in this collection, directly to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
Information provided by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation: https://www.barrierreef.org/