Get Your Holiday To Australia Booked Before It Disappears!

Guest Post

In recent news some astonishing facts have been revealed about one of Australia’s most spectacular feature, The Great Barrier Reef. It has been common knowledge for quite some time that The Great Barrier Reef is being affected by continued climate change, but what hasn’t been apparent until recently is just how bad it has been affected.

According to a recent news story by BBC, as much as half of the world’s largest coral reef system has disappeared in the last 27 years. Along the 2500 kilometres of Australia’s North East coast, The Great Barrier Reef has been the destination for many holidays to Australia, however, if the existing damage continues, you’ll need to ensure that you visit quickly if you are to see it at it’s best.

As previously mentioned, it has been largely the Green House effect which has been blamed for the Coral Reef’s destruction; however, recent reports attribute only 10 percent of the damage to be caused by Coral Bleaching from rising sea water temperatures.

The biggest damaging factor has actually been attributed to Cyclones, reportedly causing as much as 50 percent of the damage of the Great Barrier Reef in the last 27 years.

Another 40 percent has been damaged by Crown of Thorns Starfish which is a local species that feeds on the coral. With so many damaging factors, and with the percentage of damage caused by rising sea water temperatures looking only set to increase with further climate change, the outlook on The Great Barrier Reef isn’t great.

The prestigious coastline currently holds the accolade of a World Heritage Site, however, if the damaging trends look set to continue, Australia could see this accolade rescinded and a reduction in the amount of tourism it can expect. Holidays to Australia have never been more popular with reduced air travel fares and increased exposure on all Australia has to offer. Hopefully, the damage to the Coral Reef can on Australia’s coast can be lessened, and the government are certainly investing significant sums to help turn the situation around, but as ever, more needs to be done.

The BBC report includes the fact that Google have recently mapped the Great Barrier Reef so that it can be viewed online. If you’re a prospective holidaymaker to Australia, take a look on Google Maps to see the reef in all its glory and keep your fingers crossed that this online feature doesn’t become an archive for a once great marine biological system. 🙂 – Travel Feeder, your ultimate travel photo blog

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.