2. General The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world and was discovered by James Cook in 1770. It is more than 600,000 years old and exist of many different coral reefs.

3. Animals In the Great Barrier reef life 439 types of corals and 1,500 species of fish. In addition, there are also many endangered* species, such as the fake turtles (unechten Karettschildkröten). *endangered = bedrohte

4. Location The Great Barrier Reef is on the northeast coast of Australia and it is over 2.300 Kilometers Long. On this Map, it is the white area on the coast.

5. Tourist About two million tourists visit the reef per year, and they spend four billion Australian dollars for theme Trips. Most in use are the glass boats, small helicopters and submarines.

6. conservation Causes include other pollutants from (banana) plantations and construction of islands, as well as greenhouse gases, careless snorkelers, or the increasing tsunamis.