The Bluewater Zone
The clear blue waters beyond the Great Barrier Reef may look empty and barren, but on closer inspection they are teeming with life: plankton.
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest and most complex reef system in the world, made up of thousands of individual coral reefs and hundreds of islands and coral cays. It stretches more than 2000 km along the north-east coast of Australia and is one of the only natural structures that can be seen from the moon.
Australians and international tourists alike are well acquainted with the Great Barrier Reef as one of the world’s great natural wonders. What they are not so familiar with is the importance of the surrounding bluewater zone to the survival of the Great Barrier Reef. Compared to the colourful and highly visible reef, these clear blue waters may look empty and barren, but on closer inspection they are teeming with life: plankton.
Brooke Carson-Ewart , Web Manager