The treasure of Ocean

Great Barrier Reef

            The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres.The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland in north-east Australia.

The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world's biggest single structure made by living organisms. This reef structure is composed of and built by billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps.It supports a wide diversity of life and was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981.CNN labeled it one of the seven natural wonders of the world.The Queensland National Trust named it a state icon of Queensland.
             A variety of colourful corals on Flynn Reef near Cairns. The Great Barrier Reef supports a diversity of life, including many vulnerable or endangered species, some of which may be endemic to the reef system.

       Thirty species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises have been recorded in the Great Barrier Reef.More than 1,500 fish species live on the reef and several species of snapper and coral trout.Forty-nine species mass spawn, while eighty-four other species spawn elsewhere in their range.Seventeen species of sea snake live on the Great Barrier Reef in warm waters up to 50 metres deep and are more common in the southern than in the northern section. None found in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area are endemic, nor are any endangered.

         Six species of sea turtles come to the reef to breed. The green sea turtles on the Great Barrier Reef have two genetically distinct populations, one in the northern part of the reef and the other in the southern part.Fifteen species of seagrass in beds attract the dugongs and turtles,and provide fish habitat.The most common genera of seagrasses are Halophila and Halodule.
           Saltwater crocodiles live in mangrove and salt marshes on the coast near the reef.Around 125
species of shark, stingray, skates or chimaera live on the reef.Close to 5,000 species of mollusc have been recorded on the reef, including the giant clam and various nudibranchs and cone snails.Forty-nine species of pipefish and nine species of seahorse have been recorded.At least seven species of frog inhabit the islands.
215 species of birds visit the reef or nest or roost on the islands.Most nesting sites are on islands in the northern and southern regions of the Great Barrier Reef, with 1.4–1.7 million birds using the sites to breed.The islands of the Great Barrier Reef also support 2,195 known plant species; three of these are endemic. The northern islands have 300–350 plant species which tend to be woody, whereas the southern islands have 200 which tend to be herbaceous; the Whitsunday region is the most diverse, supporting 1,141 species.
           A Striped Surgeonfish amongst the coral on Flynn ReefThere are at least 330 species of ascidians on the reef . Between 300–500 species live on the reef .

For me,I think,it's beautiful place under the water That place be filled with reef and many animal ,are beautiful. I want to go to Great Barrier Reef.