The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the only living organic collective visible from the earth the ‘orbit of s. The great barrier reef, the east coast of Australia, is one of the wonders of the natural world – is the largest ecosystem in the world ‘s. coral reef It was declared a World Heritage area in 1981 and added to the national heritage list in 2007.

The reef is scattered with beautiful islands and idyllic coral islands covering over 300,000 square kilometers. The Great Barrier Reef system consists of more than 3000 reefs which range in size from 1 hectare to over 10,000 hectares in area. The island is one of the key more than 600 islands in the great barrier reef.

Human activity on reef areas has led to increased pollutants and the reef has suffered damage. Reef protection is the responsibility of the marine park. In 2003, the Australian government and previous governments of Queensland, in partnership with a wide range of industry groups and community, developed the plan of the vein of protecting the water quality of the reef (the reef) as a combined effort to protect the reef.

Of particular concern is the wetlands – which have declined by over 50 percent since the establishment in Europe. The major program of coastal wetlands protection barrier reef is developing measures for the long-term conservation and management of priority wetlands.

The coral

Corals consist of several islets and reefs. These are the basis for the wide variety of sea and animal life in the bonanza. The choir consists of the individual coral polyps – tiny living creatures that join together to form colonies. Each polyp lives inside a shell of aragonite, a type of calcium carbonate that is the hard shell that we recognize as coral. The polyps join together to create forests of colored coral in interesting ways fan of horns, the brain and of the plate.

The ideal environment for coral is hot down where there is much water movement, lots of light, which is salt water and low in nutrients. There are many different types of coral, something is slow growing and live to be hundreds of years, others are growing more quickly. The colors of coral are created by algae. Only live coral is colored. The dead coral is white.

One of the biggest dangers to the habitat is the crown of the sea stars from the bones. Since the 60s the crown of thorns has been destroying the corals that make up the reef. The crown of thorns outbreaks happen with a series of steps that may take from 1 to 15 years. The impact of a crown of thorns infestation of the living from the sea and the bird can be significant while the corals die.

Another whip is reef bleaching, where corals have died in large numbers. This phenomenon is not unique to Queensland ‘andalusia great barrier reef s, but has been seen in the veins around the world. It is thought that the money has been caused by increases in water temperature associated with the effect of El Nino, but the evidence is inconclusive.

The coral, over the years, many ships had been brought to punishment, including Captain James Cook ‘effort to craft s. One of the most famous ruins of the HMS pandora, which collapsed in 1791. The Queensland Museum has been pushed to the main archaeological pandora since 1983 and his most recent was completed in February 1999. There are 30 known shipwreck sites in the marine park.

The habitat

The World Heritage area receives many native habitat or environments where they live animals and plants naturally.

Various degrees of protection are provided for various habitat in the area of world heritage. One of the main aims of the plan is to maintain biodiversity within reef ecosystem largest reef habitat as well as several to help sustain the biodiversity of species and population levels.

The great barrier reef area abounds with wildlife, including dugong and green turtles, varieties of dolphins and whales, more than 1500 species of fish, 4000 types of mollusc and more than 200 species of bird life. However, in 2006 it was reported that during the past 40 years, the ‘silly numbers of turtles nesting has declined from nearly 50 percent and 80 percent, and estimates of dugong populations indicates that are currently only about 3 percent of which were in the early 60 .

Since 2004, rezoning various areas of the reef was introduced to try and recognize important habitat and various species of fish identified as dominant targets of protection.
Tourism

Over two million people visit the reef each year generating more than $ AU2 billion in tourism dollars, making tourism a major buyer for the Australian economy in the northeast. More than 500 commercial vessels to carry tourists to the reef, and tourism is permitted through most of the park.

Most of the reef is part of a large marine park barrier reef and the various parts of it are protected in certain ways. For example, fishing is restricted in some areas and protecting the individual animals – including whales, dolphins, green turtles and dugong -.

Tourism can also have a negative impact, with fragile corals broken by anchors who walk, falls in the vein or by ships dropping fuel and other kinds of pollution. Even the number of people in the water associated with the output of sweat lotions and tan may have a negative impact on the fragile reef environment.

Before visiting the marine park great barrier reef, it is important you study the map of the division for the area you are visiting to be sure the activities you can do and where you can make.

The marine park authority also recognizes the need to protect cultural values and heritage conducted by the traditional owners. Since 2004, the owners and the indigenous traditional state agencies are working together regarding the traditional use of marine resources.

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