Fact of the Day Image Dec. 11th

The Great Barrier Reef is a giant reef system off the east coast of Australia. It is home to over 200 species of fish and 115 species of birds! Those are a lot of animals living in one giant reef. The Great Barrier Reef is actually a giant living thing!!

The coral reefs there are actually living things. The coral is actually the skeleton of tiny creatures called polyps. The polyps secrete this hard layer which is actually what coral is. Over time, more and more polyps join together to create a giant coral reef. The coral makes a great living area for fish, sharks and whales, and sea birds. The Great Barrier Reef is so big that it is the only living organisms visible from space!!