The great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world. It is off the coast of Queensland, in north-eastern Australia, and it is 2000 kilometres long. The Great Barrier Reef is not just one reef. It is almost 3000 reefs and islands
The reef is a beautiful place. Some people describe it as an underwater garden. The corals that form the reef are very colorful. Some of them look like plants, but they are not plants. They are made of thousands of tiny animals that are joined together. Corals can only live in warm,clean,sea water with loss of light. They feed at night, taking food from the water as it goes past
Even more colourful than the corals are the fish that live in the reef. Some are one or two bright colours, like blue or yellow. Others have three or more colours, such as blue, green and pink. Some have stripes and some have spots. One fish is white, black and yellow with red spots. The colours and patterns on some fish change as they grow.
The Great barrier Reef is one of Australia's most popular holiday places. More than 2 million people visit the reef each year, so it has to be looked after very carefully. In many places people are not allowed to fish. Luckily the fish and the other animals on the reef are so interesting that most people are happy just to look at them!