That's not a reef, now that's a reef: a century of (re)placing the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef has been an oversized silent partner in Australian history-it has played a significant role in elections, military conflicts, social movements, reconciliation and repatriation, the arts, and some of the world's most advanced and ground breaking science. The reef is the largest natural feature on the face of the planet and is the basis of the second-largest marine protected area in the world. It is an important World Heritage site-covering 347,800 square kilometers and comprising some 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands. It is home to six of the world's seven species of turtles; 16 species of sea snakes; over 200 species of birds; 400 species of coral; 500 species of seaweed; 1,500 species of fish; and 4,000 species of mollusks. Approximately thirty species of dolphins, porpoises, and whales travel through or reside in the reef's waters. The reef is the largest system of coral reefs and associated life-forms in the world and is one of the world's most diverse ecosystems