Comprising nearly 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands, Australia's Great Barrier Reef is the largest of its kind in the world. Covering an area of around 350,000 square kilometres off the coast of Queensland, the reef is the only living structure large enough to be seen from space, earning it a place among UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.

The Great Barrier Reef abounds with wildlife, including whales, turtles, reef sharks and more than 1000 species of fish.

Protection of the reef is partly funded by two million tourists and 5 million recreational visitors per year, but irresponsible tourism has led to increased pollution, one of several environmental threats, which also include overfishing and climate change.

Nature Picture Library has extensive coverage of the Great Barrie

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