2. Facts The Great Barrier Reef is the worlds largest coral reef system. Stretching 2300 kilometers, this natural icon is so large it can even be seen from outer space. It includes about 3000 coral reefs, 600 continental islands, 300 coral cays and about 150 inshore mangrove islands. The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia. It must be exactly 27 degrees or the corals will die.

3. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park The Great Barrier Reef Marine park is like a nature reserve to protect the reef. It covers 344,400 km2 in area. How big is it? It’s bigger than the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Holland combined. It’s roughly the same area as Japan, Germany, Malaysia or Italy. Approximatley half the size of Texas.

4. Diving The reef is a very popular destination. Especially for scuba divers. There are lot of different kinds of fish so if you are a diver, it will be very interesting to dive here.

5. Did you know that…? The ecosystem of the reef consists of over 1800 species of fish? There are about 125 types of shark and rays? It has more than 10,000 of sponge types And about 350 different kinds of coral. If you are standing on the moon, you can acually see the reef.