FlipFact of the Day: The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s biggest structure made of living organisms, and can be seen from outer space.
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s seven natural wonders, and is a World Heritage Area. The 344,400-square-kilometer reef is both the largest coral reef system and the biggest living structure on Earth. And yes, it’s visible from space.
Within the Reef are 3000 individual reef systems, 760 fringe reefs, 600 tropical islands, and about 300 coral cays. The Reef serves as the natural home of countless marine organisms, including sea turtles, sharks, reef fish, and corals.
However, over the years, the Reef has lost half of its coral cover. The gravest threats to its continued existence are coral bleaching due to global warming, pollution, coastal development, and overfishing.
Today’s Science History Milestone: On September 25, 1956, TAT-1, the first submarine transatlantic telephone cable system, was inaugurated.
Still remember your 5th-grade science classes? Test your knowledge and see if you still remember these facts and fundamental concepts in human anatomy, biology, botany, and other branches of science. Click here to try the “Are You Smarter Than A Pinoy Fifth-Grader” Challenge.
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Cover image: NASA Earth Observatory
References
- http://www.reefteach.com.au/about-the-reef/what-can-i-do-to-help-the-reef/
Author: Mikael Angelo Francisco
Bitten by the science writing bug, Mikael has years of writing and editorial experience under his belt. As the editor-in-chief of FlipScience, Mikael has sworn to help make science more fun and interesting for geeky readers and casual audiences alike.
