20 interesting facts about the Great Barrier Reef

20 interesting facts about the Great Barrier Reef

We share the most interesting facts about the Great Barrier Reef that we collected during our week-long visit

We've all seen pictures of the Great Barrier Reef: a pearl necklace of reefs and lagoons sparkling in every shade of blue imaginable. This natural wonder in Australia is teeming with life.

The marine animals here range from microscopic plankton to whales weighing 100 tons. It's a riot of color, a carnival of life. Clown fish with bright orange curls next to bright blue fish. It's a true spectacle - but what exactly is the Great Barrier Reef? Is it really bigger than Italy and can it really be seen from space?

We share the most interesting facts about the Great Barrier Reef that we collected over the course of a week on our small ship expedition.

Interesting facts about the Great Barrier Reef

1. Das Great Barrier Reef ist die größte lebende Struktur der Welt. Es besteht aus 2.900 einzelnen Riffen und 900 Inseln. (Quelle: National Geographic, BBC)

alt="Interesting facts about the Great Barrier Reef: It is the largest living structure in the world">DreamtimeThe Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure in the world

1. Das Great Barrier Reef erstreckt sich über 2.000 km (1.250 Meilen) von Norden nach Süden und bedeckt insgesamt etwa 135.000 Quadratmeilen (350.000 Quadratkilometer). Das ist größer als Italien und fast so groß wie Deutschland. (Quelle: Britannica, CIA World Factbook)
2. Eine der schönsten und interessantesten Fakten über das Great Barrier Reef ist, dass Astronauten es aus dem Weltraum sehen können. (Quelle: NASA)
3. Das Great Barrier Reef ist eines der sieben Naturwunder der Welt. Die anderen sind Aurora Borealis, der Hafen von Rio de Janeiro, der Grand Canyon, der Mount Everest, der Vulkan Paricutin und die Viktoriafälle. (Quelle: Guardian)

4. Coral polyps – usually no larger than a grain of rice – are the building blocks of the Great Barrier Reef. These tiny colonial animals contain a symbiotic algae in their cells. As the algae photosynthesize, each fueled polyp secretes a “house” of calcium carbonate. One house follows the other and the colony expands like a city. Other sea creatures step in and help put all the pieces together, allowing the reef to grow. (Link: National Geographic)

alt="Escape Reef is one of the best dive sites in the Great Barrier Reef">Atlas & BootsMany healthy and colorful corals are on display at Escape Reef

1. Das Great Barrier Reef ist uralt. Teile davon sind bis zu 20 Millionen Jahre alt. (Quelle: BBC)

2. Reefs only grow about 1.3 cm per year. (Source: National Geographic)

3. The Great Barrier Reef is home to a variety of animals, including 1,625 species of fish, 1,400 species of coral reefs, more than 3,000 species of molluscs, six of the world's seven species of sea turtles, 133 species of sharks and rays, and 30 species of whales and dolphins. (Source: GBRMPA)

4. Dugongs, also known as sea cows, are threatened worldwide. The Great Barrier Reef has 11,000 of them, making it the world's largest and most important dugong refuge. (Source: GBRMPA, BBC)

alt="Interesting facts about the Great Barrier Reef Dugong">DreamtimeDugongs are threatened worldwide

1. Das Great Barrier Reef ist die Heimat der Würfelqualle, dem gefährlichsten Meerestier für den Menschen. Sein Stich ist so schmerzhaft, dass Menschenopfer bekanntermaßen einen Schock erleiden und ertrinken oder an Herzversagen sterben, bevor sie überhaupt das Ufer erreichen. (Quelle: GBRMPA, National Geographic)

2. In 2012, Google launched the first-ever underwater Street View on the Great Barrier Reef. (Source: Google)

3. One of the most spectacular events on the Great Barrier Reef is the annual synchronized coral spawning. Resembling an underwater blizzard, mass spawning sees colonies of coral polyps simultaneously releasing billions of tiny bundles of eggs and sperm into the water. This synchrony - which scientists still don't fully understand - is crucial because the "blizzard" increases the likelihood of fertilization. (Source: GBRMPA, NOAA)

4. The Great Barrier Reef is a major tourist attraction with around two million visitors per year. (Source: National Geographic)

alt="The Great Barrier Reef attracts 2 million visitors a year">Atlas & BootsThe Great Barrier Reef attracts 2 million visitors annually

1. Das Great Barrier Reef hat in seinen Küstengewässern eine durchschnittliche Tiefe von 35 m, während sich an den äußeren Riffen die Kontinentalhänge bis in Tiefen von mehr als 2.000 m erstrecken. (Quelle: GBRMPA)

2. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. (Source: UNESCO)

3. One of the lesser known interesting facts about the Great Barrier Reef is that it is home to one of the largest wildlife wrecks on earth. The SS Yongala is a 100 meter long passenger ship that sank in the lagoon in 1911 and has become a vibrant fish sanctuary and diving hotspot at a depth of 30 meters. (Source: The Guardian)

4. European exploration of the area began in 1770 when British explorer Captain James Cook ran his ship, the Endeavour, aground on the Great Barrier Reef. After dropping weapons and supplies to lighten the ship, the crew managed to free it. (Source: Britannica)

alt="Interesting facts about the Great Barrier Reef in Australia">Atlas & BootsThe Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on the planet

1. Eine der ernüchternden interessanten Tatsachen über das Great Barrier Reef ist, dass es eine Reihe von Massenbleichungen erlitten hat, ein Prozess, der Korallen töten kann. Es wird durch eine Reihe von Faktoren verursacht, darunter Klimawandel, schlechte Wasserqualität, Küstenentwicklung und Überfischung. (Quelle: Great Barrier Reef Foundation)

2. In 2016, Outside Magazine published an obituary for the Great Barrier Reef to raise awareness of its plight. Scientists said the claims were well-intentioned but undermined efforts to protect the reef, including citizen science programs, reef conservation projects and sustainable tourism that funds protection. (Source: Outside)

3. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority charges a tourist tax of $6.50 per person per day to fund conservation efforts. It also maintains a list of high standard tourism operators to encourage visitors to choose responsible companies. (Source: GBRMPA)

alt="Protection of the Great Barrier Reef Coral Expeditions">Atlas & BootsCoral Expeditions are certified by Ecotourism Australia

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef: the essentials

What: Visit the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Where: We visited the Great Barrier Reef with Coral Expeditions, the only reef-wide operator recognized as a high standard tourism operator by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

Our upper deck cabin was extremely comfortable and surprisingly spacious with plenty of storage and stunning ocean views.

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Atlas & Boots

Aperitifs were served on the upper deck and meals were taken in the lower deck dining room, where Chef Mark prepared feasts for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as morning and afternoon tea.

The maximum capacity of 44 guests (ours had 22) makes for an excellent camaraderie and atmosphere, enhanced by a delightful crew. Overall, it's a wonderful way to explore the Great Barrier Reef.

When: The best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef is from July to October due to good visibility and little rain and wind.

How: We joined Coral Expeditions for a 7 night expedition from Cairns to Hinchinbrook Island, Lizard Island and back to Cairns.

Prices start from A$3,680 (US$2,720) per person and include all meals, tea and coffee, snorkeling equipment and wetsuits, snorkeling excursions, guided glass-bottom boat rides, presentations by marine biologists, access to islands, marine parks and national parks, an introduction to diving skills for first-time divers and drop-off at a hotel in Cairns or to Cairns Airport. Prices do not include dives ($80 AUD / $60 USD per person, per dive) or stinger suits. Please note that there is no internet access on board.

Expeditions depart and return to the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal. You will receive boarding instructions before departure, which are worth reading carefully as taxi drivers do not always know exactly where to go.

Cairns itself can be reached by car from Hertz Australia, by bus from Greyhound Australia or by plane to Cairns Airport. Book domestic or international flights with Skyscanner at the best prices.

Lonely Planet Australia is a comprehensive travel guide to the country, ideal for those who want to both explore the top attractions and take the road less traveled.

Disclosure: We explored the Great Barrier Reef with support from Coral Expeditions. All publications say this, but we really don't guarantee positive coverage. We say what we think – good and bad – so you can make informed decisions with honest advice.

Mission statement: Dreamstime

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