7 Great Barrier Reef Facts for Kids

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s natural wonders. It is the largest living thing on earth. It is made up of many living animals that look a bit like rocks and plants. It is a huge tourist attraction and home to ocean wild life.

1. The Great Barrier Reef is home to 30 species of dolphins, whales, 6 species of sea turtles use the Great Barrier Reef as their breeding spot. There are 17 species of snakes that call the reef home. At the Great Barrier Reef you will find over 215 species of birds and well over 1500 different types of fish. It is chock full of life, as a matter of fact 10% of the entire world’s population of fish can be found living on the reef.

2. Tourism to the reef brings in about $6 billion a year in revenue a good portion of that is put toward conservation and care of the reef including research which is ongoing.

3. The size of the reef is actually quite enormous at over 2,600 kilometers which includes over 900 HUNDRED islands. It is one of the largest ecosystems in the world. It contains over 3,000 individual reef. To give you an idea about how large the reef is, it is larger than Victoria and Tasmania combined. It is larger than Holland, Switzerland and the UK combined.

4. It is half the size of Texas and the size of Italy, Germany, Japan or Malaysia. It is a huge space that is brimming with life. It can be seen from outer space.

How Old is It?

5. The Great Barrier Reef is ancient. It is about 20 million years old. It is a world protected area where fishing is not allowed. It is made up from Coral which is a living breathing animal that creates its own shell. The shells that have been tested to determine age date the reef back over 20 million years but it is likely much older.

Dangers to The Reef

6. The Great Barrier Reef is in constant danger from things like pesticides that are used on farms that make their way into the ground water. Boats and human encroachment and all the things that humans bring with them like trash and chemicals also pose a risk to this amazing living ocean mass.

7. Through conservation efforts and education it is the hope that the Great Barrier Reef will continue to thrive and grow for the next 20 million years.