Experts opine the Great Barrier Reef was formed around 18 million years ago. Due to various climatic and environmental changes, the reefs, which we see today, are those that have grown over the earlier reefs since the last Ice Age.
Among the species that are supported by the reef - around 30 species of whales, 215 species of beautiful birds, 6 species of sea turtles, 125 species of sharks and stingrays, 49 species of pipefish, 17 species of sea snakes and around 1,500 types of fish!
Every cubic meter of the reef has many different species of animals and plants! This itself explains the wide diversity of life!
One of the oldest species of fish that can be found at the Great Barrier Reef is the Red Bass. This fish can live for more than 50 years as compared to other species.
In the year 1981, the Great Barrier Reef was selected as a World Heritage Site.
The Great Barrier Reef stretches out over 344,400 square kilometers.
Astronaut Doug Wheelock sent this picture of a section of Australia's Great Barrier Reef down to Earth from the International Space Station on Aug. 22. "I think even the great Impressionists would be awestruck with this natural display," Wheelock said.
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