The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest
collection of coral reefs and is off the northeast coast of Australia. It
contains over 400 species of coral, 1,500 species of fish, and over 4,000 types
of mollusks. (UNESCO, 2012). The entire area is a total of 348,000 square feet
and extends 250 km offshore. The area also includes shallow areas, mid-shelf,
outer reefs, and extends 2,000 meters deep. (UNESCO, 2012). This ecosystem has
evolved for millions of years, having been exposed and flooded by four glacial
and interglacial cycles. These changes in the ecosystem over the years have
created the GBR as it is now. (UNESCO, 2012). The continental islands, coral
cays, and reefs show the evolution through the growth of coral cays and new
phases when rising sea levels created the continental islands. (UNESCO, 2012). This
ecosystem is a historical gem that has been evolving to current conditions for
millions of years and continues to do so.
1. "Great Barrier Reef." UNESCO. UNESCO World
Heritage Centre, 2012. Web. 30 Nov 2012.
<http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/154/>.
No comments:
Post a Comment