How long is great barrier reef in australia

While coral reefs initially made the Great Barrier Reef famous, they only comprise about seven per cent of the Marine Park and the World Heritage Area. The rest of the Marine Park is an extraordinary variety of marine habitats, ranging from shallow inshore areas — such as seagrass, mangroves, sand, algal and sponge gardens, and inter-reefal communities — to deep oceanic areas more than km offshore.

Rather than having one level of protection throughout the Marine Park, the area is instead divided into different zones. Each zone has different rules outlining permitted activities and those that are prohibited. The Marine Park stretches approximately km along the coast of Queensland in north-eastern Australia — this is about the same length as the west coast of the USA from Vancouver to the Mexican border.

The Belize Reef off the Caribbean coast of Belize is the second longest barrier reef in the world at km, while Ningaloo Reef off the West Australian coast is km long. We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience. Find out more. By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies. We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60, years.

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By Jac Taylor Home to diverse marine life of the most vivid colours, the Great Barrier Reef offers the opportunity for great adventure, both in luxury and on a budget. Things to do and top attractions on the Great Barrier Reef. Seaplane over Heart Reef Create the perfect romantic surprise for a loved one by flying over the world-famous natural wonder, Heart Reef.

Cruise the Agincourt Reef Agincourt Reef is home to over 16 different dive sites, making it a popular destinations for divers and snorkellers. Sail or skydive the Whitsundays It's hard to beat the romance of sailing through the Whitsunday Islands. Trek the Thorsborne Trail Along the eastern coast of Hinchinbrook Island , an untouched tropical paradise on the coast between Townsville and Cairns, is the four-day, kilometre mile Thorsborne Trail traversing cloud-cloaked mountains, jungle-like rainforest and pristine beaches.

Witness island wildlife The islands of the Great Barrier Reef hold as much wildlife on land as they do in the sea. Relax in Airlie Beach The coastal village of Airlie Beach is a vibrant town filled with palm-fringed beaches, waterfront parks and alfresco dining restaurants.

Cruise to uninhabited islands The Great Barrier Reef's Frankland Islands might be uninhabited, but that doesn't mean you can't appreciate the islands' rich coral reefs, diverse aquatic life and pristine stretches of sand.

Load More. Popular itineraries. Travellers' stories. More experiences around the Great Barrier Reef. The region is home to tropical Where to stay on the Great Barrier Reef From international luxury resorts to more low-key abodes that take their cues from the abundant nature and wildlife, these are the Whether you fly over it, cruise on top of it Planning your next Australian holiday?

Get expert help from an Aussie Specialist who has the knowledge and experience to help you plan and book every detail of your trip. Coastal development also looms as a major threat. Some of the Reef's inhabitants, such as turtles and crocodiles, have been around since prehistoric times and have changed little over the millennia. The Park itself extends south from the tip of north Queensland, in north-eastern Australia, to just north of Bundaberg.

It ranges between 60 and kilometres in width and has an average depth of 35 metres in its inshore waters. On the outer reefs, continental slopes extend to depths of more than 2, metres. Did you know, coral reefs are made of calcium carbonate? Tiny soft-bodied organisms called coral polyps help to form coral reefs. Coral bleaching Coral bleaching is the result of global warming caused by the mining and burning of fossil fuels like coal. Global warming is heating our oceans, and if the water stays too hot for too long, corals bleach and die.

It smothers corals and seagrass beds and denies them sunlight, drives crown of thorn starfish outbreaks, and makes coral more vulnerable to bleaching. Nitrogen run-off from farms can also lead to algal blooms, which starfish larvae feed on, promoting population explosions. Governance Sadly, the scale and number of problems the Reef now faces have outgrown the capacity of the institutions and systems put in place a generation ago to protect it.

The Reef needs a stronger champion to defend it from industrialisation , overfishing and a multitude of other threats.

Industrialisation There are plans to expand several ports along the Great Barrier Reef coastline. Port expansion leads to dredging of the seafloor, increased shipping traffic, and a range of other impacts on the delicate coastal and marine environment of this World Heritage Area. Fisheries management needs to be supported by investment into expanded data collection and compliance programs.

Our oceans are home to incredible marine wildlife. Help WWF-Australia conserve our marine environment and become and protect our oceans today.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians, whose land we work upon and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

At WWF, we work in Australia and in our Asia-Pacific backyard to protect endangered species and habitats, meet the challenge of climate change, and build a world where people live in harmony with nature. Text available under Creative Commons licence.