The Great Barrier Reef is actually living
Recommended for Preparatory Grades
The Great Barrier Reef is located just off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
It is a system of separate reefs joined together. The Great Barrier Reef has a collection of about 2900 individual reefs and 900 islands. It is one of the natural wonders of the world.
What is a barrier reef?
A barrier reef is a long, narrow, mostly submerged coral that lies parallel to the shoreline of a landmass.
Over 1500 different species of fish live in the Great Barrier Reef. They include clownfish and starfish. You can also find are whales, dolphins, and dugong (or sea cows).
Coral reefs
Coral reefs are very complex structures that form over millions of years and grow very slowly. Layers of limestone (calcium carbonate) form these reefs. Despite their large appearance, coral reefs must start somewhere.
This is how they grow
Firstly, a baby coral swimming in the ocean will find a rock formation under the water and attach itself to the structure.
Secondly, now the baby coral is a coral polyp and will excrete (poop out) a rock substance called calcium carbonate.
Thirdly, the more calcium carbonate that a coral polyp releases, the more polyps can attach to the same location and create the coral reef.
Thereafter, when the coral polyps die, they leave behind their hard skeleton. So, new baby coral can continue to attach to the coral structure. That way coral reefs can grow larger each year.
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