Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, in the Coral Sea off Queensland, Australia. It comprises more than 2,900 reefs and 900 islands and is built by billions of coral polyps. It supports diverse life and became a World Heritage Site in 1981. Much of it is protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, but pollution, climate change, coral bleaching and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks place pressure on the ecosystem.

Location

Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia

World Heritage listing

Selected in 1981

Protection

Partly protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park