The Great Barrier Reef :

The Great barrier Reef is really a series of reefs streching for nearly 2,000 kilometres along the edge of Queensland's continental shelf. There are about 400 different sorts of reefs.

Some of these corals thrine on the turbulent line where the continental shelf plunges into the deep, some like calmer waters, some favour shallows with bright light, some prefer warmer water.

But corals grow best in warm, well-lit, clean, ever-circulating, which brings them oxygen, nutrients and calcium from which the coral animals or popyls build their home.

Behind the barrier's protection is a marine paradise of brilliant colour and from here are 4,000 kinds os molluscs and at least 1,500 species of fish.

The Great Barrier Reef is some of Australia's world-renowned naturel wonders.

A threat to the Reef is a starfish which is eating up the coral, and scientits haven't found any solution.