UNESCO .VG
Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef

The world's largest coral reef ecosystem, composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometers along Australia's northeast coast.

About

The world's largest coral reef ecosystem, composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometers along Australia's northeast coast.

UNESCO Criteria

  • World's largest coral reef ecosystem
  • Outstanding example of ecological evolution
  • Significant natural habitat for biodiversity

Gallery

Great Barrier Reef gallery imageGreat Barrier Reef gallery imageGreat Barrier Reef gallery image

Quick Facts

Location
Australia
Category
Natural
Year Inscribed
1981

Interesting Facts

Size

The only living structure visible from space, covering 344,400 square kilometers

Biodiversity

Home to over 1,500 species of fish, 400 types of hard coral, and 4,000 types of mollusc

Age

The reef began forming approximately 20 million years ago