Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world, stretching for over one thousand kilometres. It is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The reef is home to a wide diversity of life forms, and is a major tourist attraction. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The late 20th and early 21st century brought significant concern to the health and viability of the reef. Large sections of the reef died or became bleached, due to ocean acidification and high water temperatures resulting from climate change. In addition, concerns over localised pollution such as from farming or mining runnoff proved themselves correct. For many years, it was thought that the Great Barrier Reef would be destroyed by the end of the 21st century.
Even as global climate change worsened in the late 2020s, efforts to save the reef were undertaken by the Queensland and Australian governments. Strict pollution controls were enacted, and local economies were transitioned to substances and practices that were more friendly to the environment. In the 2030s, the advent of large-scale geo-engineering allowed for the localised terraforming of the ocean systems around the reef. Although large parts of the reef were still devastated, most of it was saved from bleaching or destruction.
Today, the Great Barrier Reef remains one of the foremost natural tourism destinations globally. The Australian Institute of Maritime Sciences closely monitors human use of the reef and protects it from damage. Some of the most popular tourist activities in the reef are snorkeling, diving, boat rides, and submarine rides.
The late 20th and early 21st century brought significant concern to the health and viability of the reef. Large sections of the reef died or became bleached, due to ocean acidification and high water temperatures resulting from climate change. In addition, concerns over localised pollution such as from farming or mining runnoff proved themselves correct. For many years, it was thought that the Great Barrier Reef would be destroyed by the end of the 21st century.
Even as global climate change worsened in the late 2020s, efforts to save the reef were undertaken by the Queensland and Australian governments. Strict pollution controls were enacted, and local economies were transitioned to substances and practices that were more friendly to the environment. In the 2030s, the advent of large-scale geo-engineering allowed for the localised terraforming of the ocean systems around the reef. Although large parts of the reef were still devastated, most of it was saved from bleaching or destruction.
Today, the Great Barrier Reef remains one of the foremost natural tourism destinations globally. The Australian Institute of Maritime Sciences closely monitors human use of the reef and protects it from damage. Some of the most popular tourist activities in the reef are snorkeling, diving, boat rides, and submarine rides.
Type
Coral Reef, Barrier
Owning Organization
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