The Great Barrier Reef is a vast and complex coral reef ecosystem off Queensland, Australia. It includes thousands of reefs and hundreds of islands across a large marine area.

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Overview

The Great Barrier Reef extends along the north-east coast of Australia. Its connected habitats include coral reefs, islands, seagrass beds, mangroves and deeper ocean environments.1

World Heritage status

UNESCO inscribed the Great Barrier Reef on the World Heritage List in 1981 under all four natural heritage criteria. The listed property covers approximately 348,000 square kilometres.1

Evidence

Sources

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  1. 1
    Great Barrier Reef — World Heritage List

    UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Website · Retrieved 22 August 2026

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