The Great Barrier Reef is off Queenland’s east coast.

The coral makes up the reefs and is the base for the variety of sea and animal life found here. The area has lots of wildlife including the dugong and green turtles. There are many varieties of dolphins and whales, more than 1500 species of fish, 4000 types of mollusc and more than 200 species of bird life.

There are many different types of coral and some are very slow growing and live to be hundreds of years old. Only coral that is alive is coloured.

One problem for the Great Barrier Reef is the ‘Crown of Thorns’ starfish. Since the 1960’s the ‘Crown of Thorns’ has been destroying the coral. Bleaching from increased ultra violet light is another problem and corals have died in large numbers.