【大洋洲·澳大利亚】大堡礁 Great Barrier Reef

大堡礁(英文:The Great Barrier Reef)，是世界最大最长的珊瑚礁群，位于南半球，它纵贯于澳洲的东北沿海，北从托雷斯海峡，南到南回归线以南，绵延伸展共有2011公里，最宽处161公里。有2900个大小珊瑚礁岛，自然景观非常特殊。大堡礁的南端离海岸最远有241公里，北端较靠近，最近处离海岸仅16公里。在落潮时，部分的珊瑚礁露出水面形成珊瑚岛。在礁群与海岸之间是一条极方便的交通海路。风平浪静时，游船在此间通过，船下连绵不断的多彩、多形的珊瑚景色，就成为吸引世界各地游客来猎奇观赏的最佳海底奇观。1981年列入世界自然遗产名录。

2017年3月，科学家发现，大堡礁最原始的北部区域的大部分珊瑚礁2016年已被过热的海水杀死。往南一些，大堡礁中部的珊瑚礁2016年得以幸免，然而现在正在白化，这是另一场大规模死亡的潜在预兆。

大堡礁位于澳大利亚东北部昆士兰省对岸，是一处延绵2000多公里的地段，它纵贯蜿蜒于澳大利亚东海岸，全长2011公里，最宽处161公里。南端最远离海岸242公里，北端离海岸仅16公里。在落潮时，部分珊瑚礁露出水面形成珊瑚岛。这里景色迷人、险峻莫测，水流异常复杂，生存着400余种不同类型的珊瑚礁，其中有世界上最大的珊瑚礁。这里有鱼类1500种，软体动物达4000余种，聚集的鸟类242种，并有着得天独厚的科学研究条件。这里还是某些濒临灭绝的动物物种(如儒艮和巨型绿龟)的栖息地。

它是世界最大的珊瑚礁区，延伸于澳大利亚东北岸外，长逾2,000公里(1,250哩)，距岸16~160公里(10~100哩)，由数千个相互隔开的礁体组成。许多礁体在低潮时显露或稍被淹没，有的形成沙洲，有的环绕岛屿或镶附大陆岸边。是数百万年来由珊瑚虫的钙质硬壳与碎片堆积，并经珊瑚藻和群虫等生物遗体胶结而成。至少有350种色彩缤纷、形态多样的珊瑚，生长在浅个水大陆棚的温暖海水中。据钻探，礁体之下是早第三纪陆相堆积，说明该地区原先位于海面以上。自早中新世以来，陆地下沉，间有数次回升。在海底礁坡上有多级阶地，相当于更新世冰川引起的海面变动的停顿期。礁区海底地形复杂，有穿过礁区与现代河口相连的许多谷地，这是古代陆上侵蚀产物。礁区海水温度季节变化小，表面水温高21~38℃(70~100℉)，向深处去温度变化不大。海水清澈，可清楚看到30米(100呎)深处的海底地形。礁区海洋生物丰富，有彩色斑斓、形状奇特的小鱼;还有宽1.2米、重90公斤的巨蛤和以珊瑚虫为食的海星。植物贫乏。养珠业发达，有对虾和扇贝繁殖区。大堡礁吸引著越来越多的旅游者。北昆士兰岸外建有水下观测站。有从大陆海滨城市到大堡礁的航线。其他资源有石灰、石英砂。又发现石油，已开始测量和试钻。

The Great Barrier Reef(English: The Great Barrier Reef) is the world's largest and longest coral reef group. It is located in the southern hemisphere. It runs through the northeastern coast of Australia, North from the Torres Strait, South to the south of the Tropic of Capricorn, and stretches. A total of 2011 kilometers, 161 kilometers at its widest point. There are 2,900 coral reef islands of all sizes, and the natural landscape is very special. The southern end of the Great Barrier Reef is 241 kilometers from the coast, the northern end is closer, and the nearest point is only 16 kilometers from the coast. At low tide, some coral reefs emerge from the water to form coral islands. It is a very convenient transportation route between the reef and the coast. When calm, cruise ships pass here, and the colorful, multi-shaped coral scenery under the ship becomes the best underwater spectacle to attract tourists from all over the world. In 1981, it was included in the World Natural Heritage List.

In March 2017, scientists discovered that most coral reefs in the most primitive northern part of the Great Barrier Reef had been killed by overheated seawater in 2016. To the South, coral reefs in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef were spared in 2016 but are now bleaching, a potential harbinger of another mass death.

Located on the other side of Queensland Province in northeastern Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is a stretch of more than 2,000 kilometers. It runs through the East Coast of Australia and is 2011 kilometers long and 161 kilometers wide. The southern tip is 242 kilometers away from the coast and the northern end is only 16 kilometers from the coast. At low tide, some coral reefs emerge from the water to form coral islands. The scenery is charming, unpredictable, and the water flow is extremely complex. There are more than 400 species of coral reefs of different types, including the largest coral reef in the world. There are 1,500 species of fish, more than 4,000 species of mollusks, 242 species of birds gathered, and unique scientific research conditions. It is also home to some endangered animal species such as dugong and giant green turtles.

It is the largest coral reef area in the world and extends beyond the northeast coast of Australia. It is more than 2,000 kilometers(1,250 miles) long and 16 to 160 kilometers(10 to 100 miles) from the shore. It consists of thousands of isolated reefs. Many reefs are exposed or slightly submerged at low tide, some forming sandbars, others surrounding islands or inlaid with continental shores. It has been accumulated by the calcium hard shell and debris of corals for millions of years and has been cemented by biological remains such as coral algae and insects. There are at least 350 species of colorful and diverse corals that grow in warm seawater in shallow watersheds. According to drilling, under the reef is the early Tertiary land accumulation, indicating that the area was originally above the sea level. Since the early Miocene, the land has sunk and has rebounded several times. There are multiple terraces on submarine reefs, which is equivalent to the standstill period of sea surface changes caused by Pleistocene glaciers. The submarine topography of the reef area is complex, with many valleys connected to the modern estuary through the reef area. This is an ancient land erosion product. The seawater temperature in the reef area changes little during the season, and the surface water temperature is 21 ~ 38 °C(70 ~ 100 °F), and the temperature changes to the depths are not significant. The seawater is clear and the seabed terrain of 30 meters(100 feet) deep can be clearly seen. The reef area is rich in marine life, with colorful and strange shapes of small fish; There are also giant clams that are 1.2 meters wide and weigh 90 kilograms, and starfish that feed on corals. Plants are poor. The Pearl industry is well developed, with prawns and scallop breeding areas. The Great Barrier Reef attracts more and more tourists. There is an underwater observatory off the coast of Northern Queensland. There are routes from the mainland coastal city to the Great Barrier Reef. Other resources are lime and quartz sand. Oil was also discovered and measurement and drilling began.