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Yes.

Pollution and chemical runoff pose a very real threat to the reef. The water quality of the reef is affected by sediment and nutrients, and 80% of this is caused by cattle grazing on the land adjacent to the reef. Mud and chemical runoff tend to limit the sunlight that reaches the coral, causing it to die off, and they increase the macro-algae, which is a weed.

Tourism is a threat to the reef, as tourist boats damage the delicate framework of the reef; fishing and pollution left behind by visitors also is a threat. Shipping through the Great Barrier Reef also puts the marine environment at risk if damage from oil spills.

A natural threat to the Great Barrier Reef is the Crown of Thorns starfish. Outbreaks of this starfish are a constant threat to the animals of the Great Barrier Reef, though in small numbers it poses no threat.

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How is the Great Barrier Reef being threatened by external factors?

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When did the Great Barrier Reef get it name?

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What type of site is the Great Barrier Reef?

The Great Barrier Reef is a coral reef.


What is the proper name for the Great Barrier Reef?

The proper name for the Great Barrier Reef is simply "Great Barrier Reef".


Is Osprey Reef located on the Great Barrier Reef?

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Who is credited with naming the Great Barrier Reef?

The Great Barrier Reef was named by Matthew Flinders, the first explorer to circumnavigate the Australian continent. Flinders named it this because the Great Barrier Reef is a coral reef specifically given the designation of 'barrier reef'. This means that the reef is separated from the coastline due to the water's depth being too deep.


What is an example of an ecosystem in the Great Barrier Reef?

The Great Barrier Reef is a coral reef ecosystem.


Is the Great Barrier Reef the largest reef in the world?

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