The Great Barrier Reef: Raise your Awareness on the World's Largest Ecosystem

By: Mae Lynn Paulino
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:42:23
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

Australia, the land down under and the home of the Aborigines is a place that is rich of so many things, from its very colorful past and culture to its well-kept wildlife and outstanding natural resources.

One such natural resource is the Great Barrier Reef, it is considered to be one of the natural wonders of the world since it is the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem and it is also the only living organic collective that is visible from the Earth's orbit. However, contrary to popular belief, the reef is not a continuous barrier, but a broken maze of coral reefs and coral cays.

The Great Barrier Reef is composed of roughly 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands that stretch for 2,600 kilometers in the Coral Sea in north-east Australia. It is the home of diverse forms of marine life, there is an estimated 1,500 species of fish living in the reef and more than 300 species of hard, more than 4,000 mollusk species, over 400 species of sponges have been identified and many other marine species.

Due to its vast biodiversity, warm clear waters and its astounding view, the reef is a very popular destination for tourists, most of those are scuba divers, may they be first timers or professionals, who want to experience and see the wonderful life under the sea. Because of this great interest to the reef, many cities along the Queensland coast offer boat trips to the reef on a daily basis while several continental islands have been turned into resorts to be able to take part in the boom of tourism in Australia.

Every year, the number of tourists in Australia doubles and because of this increase in human activity in the Reef, pollutants have also increased and the reef has suffered damage. The increase in pollutants in the Reef has been a considerable concern of the Australian government because it has been Australia’s first World Heritage Area. The protection and preservation of the beauty and the lives depending on the Reef is very important that’s why they have created a committee whose only aim is the protection of the Reef and it is called the Marine Park Authority. Then, in 2003, the Australian and Queensland Governments, in partnership with a wide range of industry and community groups, have developed the Reef Water Quality Protection Reef Plan (the Reef Plan) as a combined effort to protect the Reef.

The reef represents the maturity of the existence as well as the ongoing changes and evolution of life here on earth. The diverse life forms within the Great Barrier Reef show us the beauty of life as well as the importance of having a symbiotic relationship with our environment. The Reef’s existence is important not only to humans but to the immediate species benefiting from this large ecosystem. Protection and preservation is what we should and what we need to do for them to survive and continue to exist and proliferate for many years to come.

National Visa – Australian Visa and Immigration Services - Australian Visa application and Australia Travel made easy. Offers an Online Australia Visa Assessment program designed to evaluate your eligibility to migrate in Australia. Find advice on¬ jobs, tourism, visas, and living in Australia.

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Travel & Leisure category

  • Kids Attractions in Majorca - Have your kids grinning all the time! - By: Larry Austin
    Besides being a hotpot of activity where parties, delectable food and an insouciant lifestyle is the norm, Majorca or Mallorca is also rather family friendly. Although Majorca's reputation has already been cemented as the place for a fabulous night out, there are enough activities and events for children to have their fair share of fun; thus making Majorca a destination for the whole family.
  • A Guide to the Best Beaches in Lanzarote - By: Stacy Orton
    The beaches in Lanzarote are fantastic; golden sand, clear waters and glorious hot sun. When we are on holiday we hire a car and explore the whole island, stopping off at our favourite beaches along the way. Here is my guide to Lanzarote's top beaches and what they offer...
  • Rock Your Stag Party at York - By: Mark Scott
    York is one of the hottest European destinations where millions of visitors holiday year after year. Basking under the glory of a rich legacy, York is a stunning medley of the old and the new.
  • Aussies find love in global market - By: Mabel Medina
    TENS of thousands of Aussies are finding love overseas each year and bringing their partners home, new figures show. The Immigration Department issued about 40,000 spouse visas last year, up 7000 on 2004-05. The size of the intake is staggering when it is noted that the total number of marriages conducted in Australia annually is little more than 100,000.
  • Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region Museum - By: Alice Yang
    The Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region Museum was established in the spring of 1953 in the People's Park in Urumchi City. A new museum was later built in 1962 at a new site on Xibei Lu. The building occupies a space of 11,000 square meters and is built in a modern style enhanced by local architectural features.
  • Zhijin Cave - By: Alice Yang
    China has the greatest concentration of karst topography of any nation in the world. It is so well endowed with caves across the country, it could well be called the "Kingdom of Caves" Now, nearly 400 caves have been developed as tourist attractions, accounting for half of the tourist caves in the world.
  • Private jets a comfort way that can get you from a place to another on time - By: Otus Smith
    "Private jets" a way that can get you from a place to another on time and on budget with providing you higher levels of comfort and convenience.
  • A Travel Guide Of Jamaica - By: Rahul uiet
    Jamaica has always been a special place since Errol Flynn, Noel Coward, Ian Fleming made it famous over 70 years ago. It has always been the first place people will name when asked about an island in the Caribbean.
  • A Wealth Of Safari Vacation Choices - Africa - By: Rahul uiet
    Taking a safari vacation is one of the most exotic options available. Deep in the heart of Africa is Tanzania, with the great Serengeti plains extending into the distance as far as you can see. Herds of animals run free here in an untamed wilderness. Predators still hunt for prey here. The Serengeti name comes from the Maasai word meaning 'the place where the land runs on forever.
  • The Best Beaches in Asia - An Introduction - By: Arvinder Jeet
    Fine golden sand and crystal clear water; a perfect picture for a peaceful day, full of solitude or romance. For many, combining this is the ultimate in enjoyment. Add water to the mix for those with families, and the peace so hard to come by at home is assured as the children swim in the ocean or build sand castles, leaving parents alone to talk quietly while the children cavort.