The Great Barrier Reef is shrinking, and it is unknown by how much. Climate scientists who subscribe to the theory of anthropogenic global warming (i.e. caused by man's activities) predict that the Great Barrier Reef may lose up to 95% of its coral by the middle of the current century. Although the coastline parallel to the Great Barrier Reef has been settled by Europeans for less then 200 years, these scientists believe that the Reef has been shrinking by 20% every 100 years.
Climate scientists who subscribe to the theory that global warming is cyclical perhaps have a less drastic view, as they believe that the coral will regenerate, as it has apparently done so in the past. It is a very emotive topic.
However, it should be noted that 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.
Oil spills occasionally occur when captains of foreign vessels ignore the warnings about travelling around the reef, and venture too close (trying to save time), resulting in damage to their ships.
It should also be noted that some 40 species which live in and around the Great Barrier Reef are listed as endangered.
Hurricanes and typhoons occur in the Great Barrier Reef.
Because the Great Barrier Reef extends for 2000 km up the Queensland coast, there are several cities close to the reef. A large city which is closest to where the reef comes in nearest the coast is Cairns.Townsville is a large city along the coast, but the reef is not as accessible and close to shore from there. The southern end of the Great Barrier Reef is around 75km northwest of the port city of Gladstone.Brisbane is the nearest capital city to the Reef, but it is about 530km from the southern end.Contrary to popular overseas opinion, Sydney is nowhere near the Great Barrier Reef, as it is 930 kilometres south of Brisbane.
Cairns is approximately 40-60 kilometers away from the Great Barrier Reef, depending on which part of the reef you visit. On average, it takes about 1.5-2 hours by boat to reach popular reef sites from Cairns.
The Great Barrier Reef follows 2000km of Queensland's coastline.
18 South, 147.5 East
Grete barrier
The Great Barrier Reef is a coral reef.
The proper name for the Great Barrier Reef is simply "Great Barrier Reef".
No. Although Osprey Reef is in the Coral Sea, where the Great Barrier Reef is located, it is actually separate from the Great Barrier Reef.
The Great Barrier Reef is a coral reef ecosystem.
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef system in the world.
The great barrier reef is awesome
The Great Barrier Reef has not been destroyed
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef.
The Great Barrier Reef was named by Matthew Flinders, the first explorer to circumnavigate the Australian continent.The Great Barrier Reef is a coral reef placed into the category of 'barrier reef'. This means that the reef is separated from the coastline due to the water's depth being too deep. The reef was given its name because of the following.Great: The Great Barrier Reef is a large and vast coral reef: at 2000km long, it is the largest coral reef in the world.Barrier: The Great Barrier Reef is a barrier reef. A barrier reef is one which runs parallel to the shore, separated by a channel of water.Reef: The Great Barrier Reef is a coral reef.
The Great Barrier Reef is always known as the Great Barrier Reef. It has no other name, although it may sometimes be shortened to just "the Reef".
The Great Barrier Reef is off the Queensland coast in Australia.