HISTORY
Historically speaking, the Great Barrier Reef is a host of many living things ranging from living coral, to algae, anemones, sponges,
fish, worms, starfish, turtles, mollusks, snakes, crustaceans, and many others. The reef itself is about 500,000 years old. The base of the reef is the remains of the sediments of the Great Dividing Range, which is often known as the Australia’s largest mountain range. 13,000 years ago, the sea level was approximately 200 feet lower than today’s level, and so coral grew around the hills of the coastal plains otherwise known as continental islands. Due to a warming period, the glaciers have melted and it has ultimately resulted in a sea level rise. Thus, today, the continental islands are now submerged and the coral has formed into reefs and cays, or low-elevation sandy islands. (21) First human contact occurred about 40,000 years ago, as the Aboriginals in Australia and the Torres Strait Islander peoples began to utilize the reef for hunting and other purposes to supplement their civilization. It is more well known how the Europeans came into contact with the eastern coast of Australia, an area commonly known as North Queensland. They came to the island in 1768, and the first scientific observations were made by Captain Cook in 1770. (10)
fish, worms, starfish, turtles, mollusks, snakes, crustaceans, and many others. The reef itself is about 500,000 years old. The base of the reef is the remains of the sediments of the Great Dividing Range, which is often known as the Australia’s largest mountain range. 13,000 years ago, the sea level was approximately 200 feet lower than today’s level, and so coral grew around the hills of the coastal plains otherwise known as continental islands. Due to a warming period, the glaciers have melted and it has ultimately resulted in a sea level rise. Thus, today, the continental islands are now submerged and the coral has formed into reefs and cays, or low-elevation sandy islands. (21) First human contact occurred about 40,000 years ago, as the Aboriginals in Australia and the Torres Strait Islander peoples began to utilize the reef for hunting and other purposes to supplement their civilization. It is more well known how the Europeans came into contact with the eastern coast of Australia, an area commonly known as North Queensland. They came to the island in 1768, and the first scientific observations were made by Captain Cook in 1770. (10)
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| Historical Great Barrier Reef Source:http://www.qhatlas.com.au/content/playground-science-great-barrier-reef |
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