Facts About The Great Barrier Reef

1.  The Great Barrier Reef is considered the "largest living structure on Earth"

2.  What compound does coral extract from the ocean to make solid tentacles?
-Calcium Carbonate

3.  How does red algae impact the structure for coral?
-Reparations are done by fast growing and encrusting red algae.  It acts like pink glue to connect sand, shell, and coral to calcium carbonate.

4.  What year did the Great Barrier Reef become a National Park?
-1975

5.  What is the percentage of the reef is protected from fishing?
-33% is fully protected

6.  How old do scientists believe the current reef is?  The ancient reef?
-the current reef is 20,000 years old
-the ancient reef is half a million years old