The Great Barrier Reef is situated off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The reef is considered to be one of the largest coral reefs in the world and is visible from space too. The reef comprises nearly 3000 individual reefs and nearly 900 islands and stretches over a vast area of about 344.400 square km.

The Reef is the largest structure made by living organisms and was made a World Heritage Site in 1981. The reef is home to some of the endangered species of marine life. The reef also acts as a breeding ground for about 6 species of turtles where there are about 400 different species of coral living.

Interested in seeing the reef close up then try this popular Great Barrier Reef Scuba Diving to help make your mind up.

The reef has been a major tourist attraction and can be easily accessed from the coastal cities of Queensland. There are a number of resorts along the coast and the reef is a popular destination for scuba divers and marine enthusiasts. If you need to get around try this australian car hire comparison site and Compare Car Rental deals with over 40 suppliers worldwide. Having a car makes site seeing much easier as you can travel on your own terms. You can go wherever you want, whenever you want and for as long as you want.

The reef has about 2 million visitors every year generating a revenue of about 4 Billion A$ annually. Also there are a number of boat tours and cruises that can be taken on yachts and other small boats. Underwater observatories and glass bottom boats are also available which act as major tourist attraction not to mention the helicopter tour flights.

The reef faces threat from both human use and the ecological system. With increased fishing activities, the water is getting polluted affecting the marine life. The other significant threat is the climatic change that is affecting the reef. The crown-of-thorns starfish which is found in the reef acts as a predator to the corals present here.

The reef offers a great tourist destination with people from all over the world visiting it. The reef is also home to about 215 different species of birds and more than 1500 different fish species that include the clownfish, red bass and coral trout. With a splendid marine life and a serene sea the reef is one among the top tourist destinations of the world.