JJ, Austin, Joel, Kevin

Great Barrier Reef Australia

Why go to the Great Barrier Reef?

• “The Great Barrier Reef is like a cool nightclub for fish” Austin Scharfstein

• The great barrier reef is only here for a limited time so come and visit!

• It has 15 different varieties of sea grass

Come to Australia and see our Hot Beaches!

•Whales, dolphins, porpoises

• green, leatherback, hawksbill, loggerhead, flat back and olive ridley sea turtles

•9 different types of seahorses

•Over 40 species of pipefish

•17 species of sea snake

• over a hundred types of shark stingray and jelly fish

•And please do not forget the beautiful coral itself

•The only place where you can see the crown of thorn sea star in its natural habitat

Mad cool SnorklingMad cool Snorkling

Crazy Plants• Sea grass meadows can be spotted from

space?!?!?!• There are 500 different types of algae found in the

great barrier reef, including red algae, gold algae, brown algae, green algae

• Algae in the form of seaweed is beneficial to humans, it contains carrageenan (thickener) and alginates (dentistry molds and pharmicuedical uses).

• 15 of the 60 types of seagrass are found specifically in the great barrier reef.

• Sea grass is the only flowering plant found in water, it is also a major food source for reef dwellers.

Righteous weather• Coral reefs are widely distributed in warm shallow waters.• The region has two distinct seasons; a winter period of

warm temperatures and low rainfall, and a summer period of balmy temperatures and higher rainfall.

Water temperatures in the Pacific vary from freezing in the poleward areas to about 30 °C (86 °F) near the equator.

• You can swim in Great Barrier Reef all year round. The best swimming season runs between April and October

• Seawater temperatures range from 23 degrees Celsius in July to 29 degrees Celsius in February.

Geography

• The reef is believed to have begun growing on an older platform 20,000 years ago

• Sea levels on the reef have not risen in 6,000 years• It is estimated that the current reef is 6,000 to 8,000

years old• The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area has been

divided into 70 bioregions, of which 30 are reef bioregions, and 40 are non-reef bioregions.

• Crescentic reefs are the most common shape of reef in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef system

Where to stay

Central Plaza Port Douglas is conveniently located in a tropical paradise within easy walking distance from the many restaurants, cafes, shops and galleries. With its resort style pool, outdoor spa, barbecue area and your own private balcony, this is the perfect place enjoy the pleasures of Port Douglas.This Port Douglas accommodation is affordable and luxurious offering 1, 2 and 3 Bedroom fully self contained, spa apartments with private balconies. The Central Plaza Port Douglas has been designed reflecting the tropical style that is typical in North Queensland.Central Plaza offers easy access to diving and snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, exploring the Daintree Rainforest or relaxing on Four Mile Beach, Central Plaza is an excellent resort to base yourself for your next North Queensland holiday.Winter is the best time to go there is a lower chance of rain and you can escape the cold weather at home.

Bibliography• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef#Ecology• • http://www.reef.crc.org.au/discover/plantsanimals/facts_plantanimal.htm• • http://www.sheddaquarium.org/sea/fact_sheets.cfm?id=69• • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_shark• • http://www.barrierreefaustralia.com/the-great-barrier-reef/great-barrier-reef-info4.htm• • http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061204123545.htm• http://www.great-barrier-reef.com/vn003.html#cli• http://www.snowcrest.net/geography/slides/biomes/index.html • http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/ •

http://www.nearctica.com/educate/subject/biomes.htm • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef• http://animals.about.com/b/2006/10/02/geography-and-climate-of-the-great-barrier-reef.htm• http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0821649.html

Come to The Great Barrier Reef.