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June 1, 2011 – Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef is said to be swarming with marine wildlife.
The Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system, composes of roughly 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for 2,600 kilometers over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometers.
Located in the Coral Sea off the coast of Queensland in north-east Australia, the Great Barrier Reef, has become very popular destination for tourists, especially for scuba divers.

Tourists with ETA Australia take time to enjoy the wide diversity of wildlife that the coral system has to offer.
Selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981 and labeled as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef teems with more than 1,500 species of fish, 400 species of corals, 4,000 species of mollusks and 242 species of bird within the park, plus a great diversity of sponges, anemones, marine worms and crustaceans.
Estimated to be about 500,000 years old, the Great Barrier Reef supports a diversity of life, including many endangered species, some of which may be endemic to the reef system.
The Great Barrier Reef has recorded thirty species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises, six species of sea turtles, coming to the reef to breed, and Seventeen species of sea snake.
At least 215 species of birds, including 22 species of seabirds and 32 species of shorebirds visit the reef or nest or roost on the islands.
Due to its immense biodiversity, warm clear waters and accessibility from the tourist boats, tourism has become an important economic activity for the region. Tourist has to secure first travel visas to Australia or tourist visas to Australia in order to be able to enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the Great Barrier Reef.
Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef is concentrated in the Whitsundays and Cairns due to their accessibility which makes up 7% of the Park’s area.

Source:
timescolonist.com