The Great Barrier Reef is considered the world's largest coral reef. Situated along the coasts of Queensland, in northeast Australia, and spreading over more than 116,000 square miles, it includes more than 3,000 coral reefs. The Great Barrier Reef was declared a World Heritage area by the Marine Park Authority in 1981. However, it was added to the National Heritage List only in 2007.
The Great Barrier Reef serves as a home to more than 1,500 species of fish and 200 species of birds. The reef is included in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, a great tourist site which brings millions of visitors each year. Even though most parts of the Great Barrier Reef are open to visitors, there are some restrictions set in order to protect the wildlife in the area. Fishing is prohibited in certain areas and a lot of species like dolphins, green turtles and whales are protected.
The Ningaloo Coral Reef is situated around the North West Cape, and it stretches over 161 miles. This environment is the home of one of the rarest fish species in the world: the Whale Shark. Measuring up to 60 feet, these monsters visit the Ningaloo Coral Reef from March to June in search for food.
One of the special features of the Ningaloo Coral Reef is the reproduction period of the reef. This phenomenon occurs in the 7 to 10 days after the full moon in March, and attracts thousands of tourists each year.
Far Northern Reefs are situated between the south part of Cape York and Murdoch Point, stretching over 310 miles. The Far Northern Reefs are included in the Great Barrier Reef, and they represent the wildest parts of the entire coral reef chain. Because their location is slightly remote and rarely visited, the Far Northern Reefs feature the highest level of live corals.
