| Great Barrier Reef | |
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| State | Australia |
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| Institutional website | |
Great Barrier Reef (Great Barrier Reef) is the largest coral reef in the world, extending from the coasts of Queensland up to the Gulf of Papua with a total area greater thanItaly
To know
Geographical notes
The Great Barrier Reef stretches for more than 2000km, parallel to the coastline of northeastern Australia, following the contours of the continental shelf. Despite its name, it is made up of some 3,000 individual coral reefs and islets connected to each other, each at a different stage of development, and separated by narrow winding channels. In some places, such as off Cape Melville to the north, the reef is a narrow strip of coral, while near Cape Manifold to the south, it measures 320km in width.
Background
In 1768 the English navigator James Cook set out on his first voyage to the Pacific; thus, sailing southwest from Tahiti, Cook discovered the New Zeland. Continuing west, he then came to the southeastern coast ofAustralia, and in April 1770 he landed at Botany Bay. Turning north, Cook kept close to the coast to carefully map it, but ended up in the shallow lagoon that separates the coast's coral reefs, 16 to 160 km away. Despite the precautions, the ship soon ran aground and had to be pulled ashore. In the two months it took to repair it, Cook had plenty of time to study the wonder of the Great Barrier Reef.
Territories and tourist destinations
How to get
How to get around
What see
What to do
At the table
Safety
Other projects
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