Jacob's Journeys

I chose the Great Barrier Reef. The Big Question is, “Why is the Great Barrier Reef one of the seven wonders of the natural world?” I knew that the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest reef and it can be seen from space.

The Great Barrier Reef got its name from the category of its three consisting words: “Great” comes from the fact that it is the biggest coral reef in the world  and “Barrier” and “Reef” come from the fact that it is what you call a “barrier reef”. Scattered areas of the Reef contain open sea; enough open areas. You can go diving on the Great Barrier Reef from in the Great Barrier Reef resort on Heron Island. The Great Barrier Reef is about 500,000 years old! Recreational fishing is a big part of life on the Great Barrier Reef – more than 800,000 Queenslanders identify themselves as recreational fishers, and the pastime generates around $240 million a year to the State’s economy. However, overfishing is a constant thread to the Great Barrier Reef due to its fragile properties. The most dangerous creature on the Reef – and in Australia – is the Box Jellyfish, which possesses an extremely powerful venom. Tourists go diving on the Great Barrier Reef all the time. Coral makes up the structure of the Reef. There are about 400 species of coral in the Great Barrier Reef. About 2,000,000 million fish live in the Great Barrier Reef.

I think the Great Barrier Reef is interesting/important because being the world’s largest reef, it supports an extremely large amount of marine life.

Main References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef

http://www.barrierreefaustralia.com/the-great-barrier-reef/coralfacts.htm

Answer References: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_did_the_great_barrier_reef_get_its_name

http://www.heronisland.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbNeIn3vVKM

http://blog.hotelclub.com/the-10-most-dangerous-animals-in-australia/

http://www.marinebio.net/marinescience/04benthon/crgbr.htm

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_fish_live_on_the_Great_Barrier_Reef

The remaining references can either not be found or multiple answers were found in one reference.

This is an artist’s depiction of a Great Barrier Reef with an unseen Mother Nature:

The Great Barrier Reef is actually built on top of another reef, a very old one – and the” new” Great Barrier Reef is actually made up of about 2,900 reefs!

About three hundred and fifty types of coral grow in the Great Barrier Reef!

Crown-of-thorns starfish are predators of coral – and not just in the Great Barrier Reef. Here it is:

Thirty species of whales, dolphins and porpoises have been recorded in the Great Barrier Reef.

Some of the largest clams can be found in the Great Barrier Reef.

Experts predict that the Great Barrier Reef was formed around 18 million years ago.

Over 200 species of birds live on the Great Barrier Reef.

Coral reefs range up to depths of 60m.

Since the Barrier Reef is a fragile habitat, tourism is highly managed. Unfortunately, overfishing is a constant threat to the reef.

1. The Great Barrier Reef got its name from the category of the three consistent words. “Great” comes from the fact that it is the biggest coral reef in the world – “Barrier” comes from the fact that it is what you call a “barrier reef” – and “Reef” obviously means that it’s a reef.
2. Scattered areas of the Reef contain open sea; enough open areas.
3. You can go diving on the Great Barrier Reef from in the Great Barrier Reef resort on Heron Island.
4. The Great Barrier Reef is about 500,000 years old!
5. Recreational fishing is a big part of life on the Great Barrier Reef – more than 800,000 Queenslanders identify themselves as recreational fishers, and the pastime generates around $240 million a year to the State’s economy. However, overfishing is a constant thread to the Great Barrier Reef due to its fragile properties.
6. The most dangerous creature on the Reef – and in Australia – is the Box Jellyfish, which possesses an extremely powerful venom.
7. Tourists go diving on the Great Barrier Reef all the time.
8. Coral makes up the structure of the Reef.
9. There are more than 350 species of coral in the Great Barrier Reef.
10. About 2,000,000 million fish live in the Great Barrier Reef.

1. Where did the Great Barrier Reef get its name?
2. How much of the Reef is open sea?
3. Which resorts can you go diving there?
4. How long do the Reef’s records date back to?
5. How much fishing goes on on the Great Barrier Reef?
6. What are the most dangerous creatures on the Reef?
7. Which famous divers relate somehow to the Reef?
8. What makes up the structure of the Reef?
9. How many species of coral are found on the Great Barrier Reef?
10. How long fish live in the Great Barrier Reef?

Australia, reef, coral, plants, fish, shells, rocks, shipwrecks, colour, size, survival, tourism

I know that the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest reef and is situated off the Northwest coast of Australia. It can be quite clearly seen from space!

I chose the Great Barrier Reef because it is the world’s largest reef.