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The
Great Barrier Reef - In recognition of its
outstanding universal value,
the Great Barrier Reef, stretching some 2,000
kms along the Queensland Coast, was inscribed
on the World Heritage List on 26th October,
1981, under the Unesco Convention concerning
the protection of the world cultural and natural
heritage. The purpose of the Convention is
to ensure international co-operation for the
protection and care of the world's outstanding
and irreplaceable heritage. |
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| Over
200 World Heritage sites are scattered around
the world including the Grand Canyon in the USA,
the Pyramid Fields of Egypt and the Taj Mahal
in India. |
In
the Australian Government's nomination of the Barrier
Reef to the World Heritage List it stated "The
Great Barrier Reef is by far the largest single
collection of coral reefs in the World. Biologically
the Great Barrier Reef supports the most diverse
ecosystems known to man. Its enormous diversity
is thought to reflect the maturity of an ecosystem
which has evolved over millions of years...."
Today the Great Barrier Marine Park, including
over 2,500 individual reefs and island national
parks, is managed by the Queensland National Parks
and Wildlife service and is made available for
the appreciation and enjoyment of this and future
generations from around the world. |
| The
Reefs - The Great Barrier
Reef is the world's largest collection of living
corals. Corals actually refer to a number of
similar marine animals, which form the main
structure of coral reefs. Each coral contains
polyps which bud in a variety of ways. This
budding process is responsible for the many
shapes and textures of corals. Coral reproduction,
which occurs for just a few short days each
year in a spectacular display of colour, is
one of the most amazing spectacles on the Barrier
Reef. |
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| Coral
Reefs are also havens
for thousands of marine animals and plants,
in a vista of colour, shape and design.
Over 1500 species of fish are known to exist on
the Barrier Reef including the world's smallest
and largest, giant clams sometimes up to a metre
long and 200 kg in weight, and 15 metre whale sharks
(thankfully harmless plankton eaters) among many. |
The
Rainforest -
The Great Barrier Reef islands and coastline,
encompassing the world heritage Daintree
Rainforest, boasts an amazing variety of
ecosystems. The sub tropical vegetation varies
from towering rainforest canopies, to eucalypt
forests, to dense mangrove mud flats and
coastal lowlands.
The Southern islands, lying between Cairns
and Townsville, are the most tropical of
all the islands in the Great Barrier Reef
Marine Park.
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Entire
islands such as Hinchinbrook,
(Australia's largest island national park)
have been declared flora
and fauna havens - sanctuaries for Australia's
fascinating wildlife. Both Dunk and Fitzroy Islands
offer dense tropical rainforests, and a colourful
variety of birdlife, nesting high in the forest
canopy.
North of Cairns, on the Far North Queensland coast,
lies Mossman Gorge and the magnificent Daintree
Rainforest. One of the most beautiful coastal locations
on the reef is Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest
meets the waters of the Coral Sea. |
Early
Exploration -
The hundreds of shipwrecks littering the
Great
Barrier
Reef attest to the hazard the Reef posed
for coastal navigators. Sixteenth Century
Portuguese navigators were the first to describe
the treacherous waters off north eastern
Australia. A map from this period marked
the area as "COST DANGEREUSE".
Two centuries later, James Cook reached Australia
during his epic voyage of exploration. |
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| Cook
described the maze of coral reefs as "Memorials
to Distress". His ship the "Endeavour" ran
aground on the Endeavour Reef in June 1770.The first
mapping survey of the Great Barrier Reef was
conducted in 1802 by Matthew Flinders. Throughout
the 1800's, survey of the Reef was slow but eventually
resulted in the opening of the Torres Strait
Passage to increased sail and later steamer traffic.
In 1884 the Torres Strait Pilot Service was officially
established. |
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Captain
Cook Cruises - Great Barrier Reef Destination Information
