Image source: Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC.ДЄs its name implies, the Great Barrier Reef is a barrier reef. Of the three coral reef structures, barrier reefs such as the Great Barrier Reef are strong structures located offshore (but not around a submerged island). There are three types of coral reef structure:В fringing reefs, which form close to shore, barrier reefs, which are more substantial, stronger reef structures, located further offshore, and atolls, which are essentially fringing reefs that formed around an island and remained as a ring of coral after the island became submerged. Over time, the skeletons of dead corals and shells become cemented together to form massive deposits of the rock limestone. The coral animals build their skeleton, which is made from calcium carbonate (CaCO 3), pulling the calcium (Ca) and carbonate (CO 3) from the seawater. As sea level rises and slowly floods coastal plains, coral reefs will follow.ДЄ reefвЂ™s beginnings occur when coral larvae floating around in the ocean attach themselves to a solid substrate, such as a rock, or older coral skeleton. Although deep water corals do exist, the majority of reef builders like to be in shallow waters, where sufficient sunlight can penetrate to fuel the photosynthesis of the algae that lives alongside the coral animals and provides them with essential food. вЂњWhat Is a Coral Reef Made of?вЂќ NOAA's National Ocean Service, 1 June 2013, /facts/coralmadeof.html.Д¬rafts and Activities (from dltk-kids.Coral reefs form under a rather specific set of circumstances-the temperature, water chemistry and water depth have to be just right. вЂњCorals.вЂќ NOAA National Ocean Service Education: Corals, US Department of Commerce, 6 July 2017, /education/kits/corals/coral04_reefs.html. вЂњGreat Barrier Reef.вЂќ Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 16 Mar. 2017, ocean.si.edu/blog/coralline-algae-unsung-architects-coral-reefs. вЂњCoralline Algae: The Unsung Architects of Coral Reefs.вЂќ Ocean Portal | Smithsonian, Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, 21 Dec. вЂњGreat Barrier Reef Facts for Kids - Pictures & Information.вЂќ Science Kids - Fun Science & Technology for Kids!, Science Kids, 8 July 2016, вЂњHow Are Coral Reefs Formed?вЂќ Aquaworld, 1 June 2015, /en/how-are-coral-reefs-formed/.

References вЂњAbout The Reef | What Is The Great Barrier Reef?вЂќ Great Barrier Reef,, вЂњGreat Barrier Reef (Animals, Plants, Coral)What Is the Great Barrier Reef?вЂќ Great Barrier Reef - Animals - Plants - Attractions - Things to Do, /trishansoz/great-barrier-reef/great-barrier-reef-facts-coral-animals-plants.html. Controls must be in plae to prevent humans from walking on the coral, breaking off pieces of the reef as souvenirs, dropping anchors on the reefs and grounding boats on them, and dragging scuba gear across the coral. While this is a great way to boost economy and educate people on the natural wonders of the coral reef, it can be detrimental to the health of the reef if tourism is not carefully monitored. Tourism вЂ“ After all we have learned it is hard to deny that the Great Barrier Reef is amazing, which is why so many people choose to explore the reef each year! The amount of tourists that visit each year is approximately 2 million. The plants that do grow along the collection of coral reefs are different types of algae (like seaweed), sea grasses, sea lettuce, etc. There are not many different plants that grow around the Great Barrier Reef because the underwater habitat makes it difficult for most plants to thrive. The water remains clear enough to see the underwater environment without disruption from floating sediment until a depth of about 30 meters. The water is remarkably clear, which makes it a prime destination to explore the coral reefs. It tends to remain at a consistent temperature all year round, and is very warm, ranging between 21вЊ and 38вЊ. The waters around the Great Barrier Reef are from the Pacific Ocean. They form when fringe reefs form around a volcanic island that later submerges underneath the water this leaves a lagoon in the center of the reef. Atoll reefs look sort of like doughnuts.Barrier reefs also grow around islands but they do not start until further away from shore.Fringe reefs grow around islands and often grow in very shallow waters.

There are three different kinds of reefs: Although, this is not entirely true because the Great Barrier Reef is not one giant reef but a collection of thousands of individual reefs. Due to the way that coral reefs form many people consider the Great Barrier Reef to be the largest structure built by living creatures.

Great barrier reef species