a woman scuba diving in Great Barrier Reef, Australia
colorful fish over coral, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
red lionfish, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Aerial picture of Hill Inlet, Whitsunday Island, Australia
Aerial picture of Heart Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Reef Rider
Hordes of divers and other tourists descend on the Great Barrier Reef each year, but with modest environmental impact thanks to strict regulations. A much greater threat is climate change—sea-temperature rise, acidification, and more intense events such as cyclones are putting the reef at risk.
Photograph by Pete Atkinson, Getty Images

World Heritage Site Pictures: Great Barrier Reef

The largest living thing on the planet, Australia's Great Barrier Reef serves up a feast of natural wonders as it stretches for more than 1,250 miles along Australia's northeast coast.

December 11, 2015

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