How did the Great Barrier Reef form?

The Great Barrier Reef that we know today actually sits on what is the remains of the sediments of the Great Dividing Range, a huge mountain system. Corals began to form around the base of these mountains, which at the time were continental islands. read more

The Great Barrier Reef is an extremely ancient, enormous host of living things, composed of living coral growing on dead coral dating back perhaps as much as twenty million years. read more

The Great Barrier Reef is not only the largest living structure, but is also the largest coral reef in the world. It was formed due to successive rise and fall of sea levels during the final years of the last Ice Age. read more

The Great Barrier Reef formed from a long and slow process involving the accumulation of organic materials, such as stone, plants and animals and shells of dead corals. The Great Barrier Reef started forming approximately 20 million years ago. read more