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The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles) over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometers (133,000 square miles). The reef is located in the Coral Sea off the coast of Queensland in north-east Australia.
The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world’s biggest single structure made by living organisms. This reef supports a wide diversity of life and was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981. The Queensland Government has regulated parts of the marine park since 1962.