Great Living Wonder - The Great Barrier Reef

The Australia's  biggest treasure of coral reefs The Great Barrier  Reef is blessed with awesome natural beauty comprising of world's largest coral reef. What makes this part of land so mesmerizing and so breath taking ???? Of course no one can escape from the nature's beauty and this is the vital reason for making this piece of land so amazing and breathtaking.

The bodies of dead and living coral lying below the surface of water leads to the formation of Coral Reef.Corals are tiny animals that live in colonies and derive nourishment and energy from a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae algae known as dinoflagellates. Coral reefs are formed over the course of thousands of years as limestone skeletons constructed by corals accumulate and form a structural base for living corals.

The shaping of coral reef constitutes of two parts :
White which is the dead body of the zillions and zillions of polyps, dead hundred and thousands of years ago.
Colorful which is the living part of the coral reef made up of living polyps.


(Corals)









How to identify corals?

Their appearance will be

1. bushy
2. table
3. boulder
4. vase
5. branching
6. plate
7. solitary

The reef is filled with numerous marine life and comprises of more than 3000 separate reef systems, coral cays and several hundreds of tropical islands with world's most seductive sun-soaked glittering beaches. The Great Barrie Reef is the only collective living organic visible from the earth's orbit. Situated off the coast of Australia is one of the wonders of natural world and world's largest coral reef ecosystem. In 1981 it was declared as the World's Heritage Site and added to the list by 2007.

It is roughly parallel to the coast of Queensland, Australia, for almost 2,000km. Australia has almost 1/5th of the world's reef area and most is located in the GBR.Washed by the warm waters of the South-West Pacific Ocean the perfect environment is created for the world's largest system of coral reefs.  The Great Barrier Reef is of such pristine condition that it was listed by the World Heritage Trust as a protected site and is therefore managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority to ensure that its beauty is maintained for many generations to come.

Created in 1975, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park covers 344,400 square kilometers along Australia's northeastern coast. From the early 1990s, there were concerns that the existing zoning did not adequately protect the range of biodiversity known to exist throughout the Marine Park. Furthermore, the location of most marine reserves at that time reflected a historical focus on coral reef habitats, with an emphasis on the more remote and pristine areas.

Recognizing the importance of using the best available science, the federal Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority worked with scientists to identify 70 unique bioregions. Then they established 2 groups to define guiding principles for development of a new zoning plan:

1. A Scientific Steering Committee developed 11 biological and physical principles, including a minimum amount of protection needed for each different biological region.
2. A Social, Economic, and Cultural Steering Committee developed 4 principles to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative impacts on Marine Park users and other interest groups.

The Diversified Reef's Collection

1. 1,500 species of fish,
2. 359 types of hard coral,
3. One third of the world's soft corals,
4. 175 bird species,
5. six of the world's seven species of threatened marine turtle and
6. More than 30 species of marine mammals including vulnerable dugongs.
7. Add to that stunning marine life are 5,000 to 8,000 molluscs
8. Thousands of different sponges, worms, crustaceans,
9. 800 species of echinoderms (starfish, sea urchins)
10. 215 bird species, of which 29 are seabirds.

The marine park stretches 1800 miles parallel to the Queensland coast which is one of the unique amongst the various Australian states and with number of genuine coastal capitals.This admiration is extended with the formation of other beautiful cities like Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Mackay and many more. Along with Queensland the coral reef adjoins the town of Bundaberg, up past the tip of Cape York. The reef, between 15 kilometers and 150 kilometers off shore and around 65 Km wide in some parts, is a gathering of brilliant, vivid coral providing divers with the most spectacular underwater experience imaginable.

Visitors in their thousands come to marvel at the spectacular sight seeing opportunities that is unique to our area. The Wet Tropics World Heritage listed Rainforest on one side and the Great Barrier Reef on the other. No other place in the world offers such diversity so close to each other.

 Off the coastline are outer edge ribbon reefs which may be up to 25 kilometres long. This is the outer limits of the continental shoreline of prehistoric times. The ribbon reefs can be seen by taking one of the daily out reef cruises offered by local operators. One of the best ways to view the reef is to take a low flying scenic flight over it, especially at low tide where you'll see the breadth and diversity of this great living wonder.



According to the reports of news.mongobay.com it was said that

Australia's Great Barrier Reef could lose 95 percent of its living coral by 2050 should ocean temperatures increase by the 1.5 degrees Celsius projected by climate scientists.A report commissioned by the World Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Queensland government, is just one of the dire scenarios forecast for reefs in the near future. The degradation and possible disappearance of these ecosystems would have profound socioeconomic ramifications as well as ecological impacts says Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, head of the University of Queensland's Centre for Marine Studies.The most important threat facing the Great Barrier Reef and other reefs of the world is higher sea temperatures that cause thermal stress for corals.





Its Destruction

While the Great Barrier Reef is one of the world's healthiest reefs, coral reefs are particularly fragile ecosystems, partly due to their sensitivity to water temperature. When corals are physiologically stressed -- as is the case when water temperatures are elevated -- they may lose much of the their symbiotic algae, an event known as "bleaching." Corals can recover from short-term bleaching, but prolonged bleaching can cause irreversible damage and subsequent death.

The first coral bleaching on record occurred in 1979. Since then, there have been six events, each of which has been progressively more frequent and severe. In the El Niño year of 1998, when tropical sea surface temperatures were the highest yet in recorded history, coral reefs around the world suffered the most severe bleaching on record. 48% of reefs in the Western Indian Ocean suffered bleaching, while 16% of the world's appeared to have died by the end of 1998. 2002 was even worse: 60 to 95 per cent of individual reefs of the 110,000 square mile (284,000 square kilometer) Great Barrier Reef suffered some bleaching, while reefs in Palau, the Seychelles, and Okinawa suffered 70-95% bleaching. Early surveys suggest the Caribbean is currently in the midst of a serious event. While most of these reef ecosystems have recovered to some degree, warmer water temperatures in the future may have a more lasting impact.

Human activity in the Reef areas has led to increased pollutants and the reef has suffered damage. Protecting the Reef is the responsibility of the Marine Park Authority. In 2003, the previous Australian Government and Queensland Governments, in partnership with a wide range of industry and community groups, developed the Reef Water Quality Protection Reef Plan as a combined effort to protect the Reef.

Of particular concern is wetlands - which have decreased by over 50 per cent since European settlement. The Great Barrier Reef Coastal Wetlands Protection Program is developing measures for the long term conservation and management of priority wetlands.

Protection of Reefs & Benifits

Protecting the reef has benefits beyond conservation - it is also an investment that helps provide security for coastal communities and provides significant benefits to the Australian economy. Reef industries, which are reliant on a healthy environment in which to operate, contributed approximately $5.8 billion to the Australian economy in 2004 and employed about 63,000 people.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) zoning plan was implemented in 2004. Its most significant feature is a network of marine sanctuaries that stretch from the Park's northernmost to southern boundaries. This is the world's largest network of marine sanctuaries and covers over a third of the Marine Park - protecting over 11 million hectares.

Scientists have identified 70 different distinct biological regions in the GBRMP, representing the entire range of its plants and animals. A minimum percentage of each biological region is protected from fishing in order to maintain the health and resilience of the ecosystem and to protect the full range of biodiversity in the marine park.

Steps for Protecting are

• Maintenance of well funded, monitored network and enforced marine sancturies
• Healthy levels of fishing effort in the marine park are needed to safeguard the Reef's biodiversity.
• Improving Water Quality
• Global Warming

(Resorts)

Some Interesting Facts of the Great Barrier Coral Reef

The only living thing that can be seen from the outer space has millions of things and diversities to see. Inorder to realize the beauty a travel lover will not stop themselves from visiting the land.

• 600 continental islands and 350 coral cays are spread throughout the reef.
• There are approximately 3400 individual reefs that make up the Barrier Reef.
• That the Great Barrier Reef was declared World Heritage on 26th October 1981.
• The reef stretches for more than 2300 kilometres. From near Fraser Island off the coast of Queensland Australia to the Papua New Guinean coastline.
• Not all coral is hard. In fact some are soft and spongy.
• The main industry on the reef is tourism. Reported to generate more the 1 billion Australian dollars annually.
• Sea Turtles do not have a sex when they are laid; the heat of the sand that they are laid in determines their sex. Sand with a temperature of more than 27ºC (80º F) produces more females. Cooler sand produces more males!

Diversities

* 2800 species of fish 
* 400 different types of coral
* 4,00 molluscs
* 500 species of seaweed
* 215 species of birds
* 15 species of sea snake
* 6 species of sea turtle

Some Species are shown below
(Comb Jelly)




Blue-linckia-sea-star



Mantis Shrimp



Clown fish

Majestic creatures, such as the giant humpback whales spend their winters in the tropics and may grow to more than 15 metres [45 feet] in length. Tourists revel in the dances that the whales perform right along side their boats. With huge tail flukes they make an impressive display. Another friendly marine mammal is the bottlenose dolphin who enjoy playing in schools. They often ride the bow waves of boats. Both the whales and dolphins are now a protected species

The waters of the Great Barrier Reef provide the world's busiest and most varied marine habitats. Marine life is in abundance. From the many species of coral to the sought after Black Marlin and all sizes and species of fish in-between. The varied colours of the reef's fish and other marine life will astound the visitor with colour combinations that artists haven't even dreamed of. It is the largest of the world’s 552 World Heritage Areas, covering 347,000 km There are more than 2800 catalogued reefs in the area.

Although stretching more than 2000 kilometres offshore from Queensland, it is only at Cape Tribulation, just north of Port Douglas that the reefs come right to the shore and meets the tropical rainforests of the Wet Tropics. With over 1000 islands which are easily accessible from North Queensland and coastal cities like Cairns and Port Douglas. The coral islands are very popular tourist attractions. Some even have varied vegetation including rainforest and are encircled by the coral reefs. Accommodation on the islands that are inhabited ranges from camping grounds to bungalows and luxurious resorts.

Things To Do
 
Diving the reef all year round! You don't have to be experienced to go snorkelling on the reef. Dive crew  members will show you how, and if you can't swim a life jacket will do the trick.Encounter an immense variety of marine life, the world's largest variety of corals,  spectacular tropical fish,  turtles and loads more.

Enjoy the reef cruise to the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef by fast, air-conditioned catamaran. Departing daily from the Reef Fleet Terminal in the heart of Cairns, there are Cruises that offer the highest quality experience in discovering the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef.
 

Each year more than 1.8 million tourists visit the reef, spending an estimated AU$4.3 billion (Australian dollars) on reef-related industries from diving to boat rental to posh island resort stays. Revenue from tourism -- popular activities include snorkeling; scuba diving; fishing; glass-bottomed boat and semi-submersible vessel excursions -- dwarfs the commercial and recreational fishing industries which generate $360 million (Australian dollars) annually. Furthermore, tourism is an important source of employment: in 1998-1999, more than 47,600 people were employed in the sector compared to around 2,000 involved in commercial fishing in the region.

Tourism has given the Australian government an incentive to preserve the reef and last summer it banned all forms of extraction in one-third of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, making it the largest fully protected area of ocean in the world. The protected area will also benefit the fishing industry by serving as a nursery for fish-breeding to restock the entire reef.

Because of its natural beauty, both below and above the water's surface, the Great Barrier Reef has become one of the worlds most sought after tourist destinations. In 2006 there were approximately 820 operators and 1500 vessels and aircraft permitted to operate in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park providing ease of access for all to experience the Great Barrier Reef and learn first hand about its natural delights and World Heritage values.

Sources

news.mongabay.com

www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au

www.protectplanetocean.org

www.greatbarrierreef.org

www.barrierreefaustralia.com

www.wwf.org.au

www.cairnsholiday.com.au