Geography Detail · Reef
The Great Barrier Reef
大堡礁 · 活着的珊瑚档案
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, stretching more than 2,300 kilometres along the north-east coast of Australia. It is so vast that it can be seen from space, and it is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.
2,300 km
Length along the coast
2,900
Individual reefs
900+
Islands
1,500+
Species of fish
Overview
Overview undefined
A City Built by Tiny Animals
Reefs are built by coral polyps, tiny animals that secrete a hard limestone skeleton. Over thousands of years, millions of colonies stack up into the massive structures we see — a living city visible from orbit.
珊瑚礁由珊瑚虫分泌石灰质骨骼堆积而成，是能在外太空看到的“活城市”。
A Rainforest of the Sea
The reef supports more than 1,500 species of fish, plus sharks, turtles, dugongs and hundreds of coral and mollusc species. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a nursery for countless ocean species.
这里生活着1500多种鱼类及海龟、儒艮等，被列为世界自然遗产。
Natural and Human Threats
The reef faces rising sea temperatures, which cause coral bleaching — when heat stress makes corals expel the algae that feed them and turn white. Cyclones and pollution add to the pressure.
海水升温导致珊瑚白化：压力使珊瑚排出为其供能的藻类而变白。
Why It Matters
Reefs shelter coastlines from storms and support fishing and tourism. Scientists race to breed heat-tolerant corals, hoping to give the Great Barrier Reef a future in a warmer world.
珊瑚礁保护海岸、支撑渔业与旅游，科学家正培育耐热珊瑚以应对变暖。
Visible from space the only living structure seen from orbit 唯一能在外太空看见的生命结构
Age The present reef began forming ~20,000 years ago 现代珊瑚礁约形成于2万年前
Marine life Dugongs, six sea turtle species, ~30 whale & dolphin species 有儒艮、6种海龟等
Tourism Generates billions in value and thousands of jobs 为澳大利亚带来数十亿美元价值
Did You Know
Did You Know 趣味知识
The reef is built by coral polyps
each smaller than a coin.
大堡礁由比硬币还小的珊瑚虫构建。
It is the only living structure visible from space
so far.
它是唯一能从外太空看见的生命结构。
Coral bleaching happens when water gets too warm
making reefs turn white.
水温过高会使珊瑚白化。
The reef is older than many mountain ranges
in its present form it is ~20,000 years old.
现存形态约2万岁，比许多山脉古老。
English Encyclopedia · Geography Detail — English first, Chinese as annotation. 正文英文为主 · 中文作注解 | ← Back to World Geography Index
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