The vast majority of lakes are not only sources of fresh water, but also interesting places to visit for tourists and travelers. We will present here nine of the most original lakes in the world, and tell you why exactly they are amazing and why they are worth visiting.
(10 photos of amazing lakes)
There are no lakes in the world deeper than Baikal! It is located in the Russian Federation in the south of Eastern Siberia. Resembling with its outlines a nascent new moon, the lake stretches, if you look at the map, from northeast to southwest. Its greatest depth is 1642 meters.
There is no purer water in the world than in Lake Baikal! It is a huge natural reservoir storing 20 percent of the world's and 90 percent of Russia's fresh water reserves. 336 rivers and streams carry their waters to Baikal, and the Selenga River brings half of all the water entering it into the lake. And the Angara is the only river flowing from Lake Baikal. The water from the lake is amazing and unique. It is absolutely transparent, clean and rich in oxygen. There are even seals in it. Baikal water was considered healing, and various diseases were treated with it. 
There are no mountain lakes in the world with more fresh water reserves than Titicaca! It is located on the border of the South American countries of Bolivia and Peru.
From an airplane, the lake looks like a sea, and from the shore it partly resembles a vast marshy swamp overgrown with reeds, which local residents have adapted for the construction of their homes and habitat islands, making clothes, hats, bags and other things. Local legend says that in ancient times, the Aymara Indians, crossing Titicaca in their pirogues, entered the territory of the Incas. These peoples failed to get along, but the proud Aymara did not even think of returning - they decided to stay and live here, sailing on the lake. Since then they have lived on the reed raft islands. 
Cheongji is unique in its volcanic origin. This is the highest crater lake. It is located on the border of China and North Korea at an altitude of 2189 meters, which is why it is called the “Heavenly Lake”.
Cheongji is surrounded by mountains with winding paths, which can even be traveled on horseback. There are a number of North Korean legends about the lake here. Once upon a time, Hwanun came down from the sky to its shores, whose son became the founder of the Korean state of Gojoseon. The second most popular myth is the legend of Kim Jong Il: lakeside residents seriously assure visitors that the son of Kim Il Sung, the founder of the DPRK, was born on the shores of this lake. 
The Crater, like our Baikal, is one of the clearest lakes in the world. It is located in the USA.
You can get there by excursion bus departing from Ashland, or by private car. The distance to the Crater is 53 kilometers. It is advisable to keep in mind that the road around the lake opens at the end of spring and closes for the winter in October. Driving along it brings true pleasure from the amazing lake landscape that opens up. The Klamath Indians consider it sacred. Until the mid-19th century, they kept the location of the Crater secret, preventing white-skinned explorers from approaching it. It was not until 1853 that John Wesley Hillman became the first white person to visit the lake. He gave it the name "Deep Blue Lake". US President Theodore Roosevelt declared the area surrounding the Crater a national park in 1902. The main attractions of the lake are a small volcanic island called “Koldovskoy”, and “Lake Old Man” - a nine-meter log floating upright in the water for over a hundred years. 
Nakuru is a lake located 140 kilometers from the capital of Kenya, Nairobi (Africa).
It is densely populated by small flamingos. Tens, if not hundreds of thousands of birds, taking off and landing, form a continuous pink blanket of various shades. Flamingos are not alone on Nakuru. In addition to them, there are many ducks, cormorants, pelicans, herons, black terns - in total about four hundred species of birds. The lake is surrounded by a national park of the same name. On the way to the water, a tourist can meet zebras, hippos, giraffes, antelopes, lions, leopards and cheetahs. 
A unique lake consisting of countless small lakes. Kliluk is located in Canada (North America).
In the summer, almost all the water in it evaporates, and sedimentary minerals harden and create “paths” between 365 irregular honeycomb lakes, thanks to which the lake received the name “Spotted Lake.” It is also unique that there are no traces of human activity nearby - not a single souvenir shop, not to mention hotels. For twenty years, local residents protected Kliluk and its surroundings from the encroachments of businessmen, preserving them in their original form, and not in vain. They completely bought the territory and made it a protected area in 2001. 
Jiuzhaigou is an unfrozen “Lake of Five Colors” in China (Asia).
It would seem that what is surprising here? The surface of the lake is ice-free all year round, although it does not have a single thermal spring. The bottom of the reservoir is covered with driftwood, and in general, the water in the lake should be cloudy, but again, for a still unknown reason, it remains transparent and clean. Every day, hundreds of tourist buses take travelers along a route along intricately curved lakes and thundering waterfalls surrounded by thickets of bamboo. 
Peach Lake looks like an ordinary polluted lake. It is located in the Caribbean. States - Trinidad and Tobago.
The uniqueness is that the water in the lake is saturated with liquid natural asphalt. It is estimated that there are about six million tons of it here, which will last for another four hundred years. By the way, the liquid composition of Peach Lake is not just thick, smoking asphalt. There are quite a few places in it to...swim. Therefore, almost 20,000 people come here every year. There is also a camp site on the shore. 
Located in Australia, Recherche archipelago. This is a unique pink pond, the likes of which are not found anywhere in the world.
Can you imagine the water being pink? Scientists are still scratching their heads to this day as to why the lake water is so strangely tinted. At first it was assumed that algae was to blame, but water samples showed that this was not the reason: there was not a single algae in it that initiated the pink color. The lake is bordered by a belt of white salt and an evergreen eucalyptus forest. There is one more “feature” of this reservoir - all Hiller’s photographs were taken from a bird’s eye view. Tourist visits to Middle Island, where this lake turns pink, are prohibited. 
HD video of Flamingos on Lake Nakuru
Lakes on our planet.
1. Jellyfish Lake in Palau
In the heart of the Pacific Ocean, the island of Palau in Micronesia is home to one of the most stunning lakes. It was once connected to the ocean, and now it is home to almost eight million jellyfish, which are not dangerous to humans.
2. Lake Rezia
In 1950, the small town of Graun in northern Italy went under water due to a flood, after which two lakes merged into one. Since then, Lake Resia has completely covered the former city; and on its surface only the bell tower is visible.
3. Lake Superior: A Surfer's Paradise
Canada's Lake Superior is so huge that it is called a lake masquerading as an ocean. This place is especially loved and appreciated by surfers.
4. Boiling Lake, Dominica
The second largest boiling lake in the world is located on the Caribbean island of Dominica. Its water can reach boiling point due to carbon dioxide and sulfur gases rising from the bottom of the large crater.
5. Man Sagar Lake
This is an artificial lake in Jaipur, Indian state of Rajasthan, in the middle of which stands the amazing Jal Mahal Palace, but is closed to tourists and visitors.
6. Spotted Lake
The lake is located in British Columbia, in western Canada, and is famous for its blue-green spots - hence the name. Among indigenous peoples, the lake is considered sacred.
7. Lake Erta-Ale-Lava
One of the strangest lakes in the world at the top of the Ethiopian volcano Erta Ale. This is truly a lake made of real lava, and it regularly overflows.
8. Peach Lake
It is located in the state of Trinidad and Tobago and is one of the largest natural lakes of liquid asphalt, which is extracted from there for road construction.
9. Laguna Colorado
Located in Bolivia along the Chilean border, Laguna Colorada is a blood-red salt lake. Its unusual color is caused by sediments and pigments of microorganisms living in the lake.
10. Lake Don Juan
This is a small body of water in Wright Valley, Antarctica, which never freezes despite the cold temperatures in the region. What is the reason? Very high salinity level. Don Juan is 18 times saltier than the ocean and twice as salty as the Dead Sea.
11. Lake Balkhash
Balkhash is the largest lake in Kazakhstan. Its waters are divided into two parts by a strait, on the western side with fresh water, and on the eastern side with salt water.
12. Lakes Kelimutu
There are three lakes at the top of the Kelimutu volcano on the island of Flores in Indonesia. They are all in the same crater, but each lake has its own color, and these colors change periodically: they can be blue, green, yellow or black. And this is still a mystery to science!
13. Nong Khan Lake
This lake in northern Thailand has its own special and unique charm - from October to March, thousands of pink lotus flowers bloom on it, creating a continuous cover of flowers. The effect is amazing!
14. Dead Sea
In fact, the Dead Sea is not a sea, but a salt lake located between Israel and Jordan and has high salinity. It is especially popular among people who love therapeutic thermal treatments.
15. Lake Manicouagan
The lake is also called the “Eye of Quebec” because of its clear circular shape. It was once a crater formed by an asteroid impact. When a dam was built on the Manicouagan River, the crater was flooded and became one of the largest reservoirs in the world.
On our planet there are a huge number of beautiful bodies of water, which differ radically from each other in their colors, composition, size and other characteristics.
1. Acid lake, Sicily.
The Sicilian lake is the most dangerous in the world. Its waters contain a high concentration of sulfuric acid, which enters the lake from underground sources. Naturally, there are no fish in the lake and coming close to it is deadly for both animals and humans. Local residents nicknamed this body of water the Lake of Death. However, it is precisely this composition of the lake that makes it stunningly beautiful.
2. Jellyfish Lake, Palau.
In the Republic of Palau there is a one-of-a-kind lake that is home to several million golden and moon jellyfish. Diving in the underwater space of this lake turns into a breathtaking adventure. You will not be able to see such an enchanting spectacle anywhere else.
3. Morning Glory Lake, Yellowstone.
Another beautiful lake is located in Yellowstone National Park, in the United States of America. To be more precise, this body of water is a hot spring, which originally had a crystal blue color. Over time, numerous tourists to the park littered its waters with coins, causing the lake to change color to an emerald hue at its deepest point, and at the edges it became bright yellow.
4. Peach Lake, Trinidad.
The asphalt lake Peach Lake rightfully deserves the title of one of the most unusual lakes in the world. It is located in the crater of a mud volcano and you won’t be able to swim in it. This reservoir contains natural asphalt, which has the ability to attract stationary objects. This is the only lake on which you can walk.
5. Lake Hillier, Australia.
This is one of the most beautiful pink lakes on our planet. The completely unexpected color of this lake attracts many tourists to Australia, but scientists still cannot determine the reason for this color of the water. The landscapes of this place are unique, because the pink lake is located very close to the coast of the Indian Ocean, which creates a sharp contrast of colors.
6. Kliluk Lake, Canada.
Lake Kliluk is also called spotted lake because the mineral rocks contained in its waters, depending on the time of year, form hard mounds on which you can walk. And between such passages there are small lakes that shimmer in different colors from the sun’s rays. Today, the territory of the lake is fenced off, and tourists cannot approach the water, although even the view of such water spots is stunning.
7. Lake Gippsland, Australia.
There is a completely unique luminous lake in the world, in the waters of which bioluminescent living organisms live. Of course, the glow mainly occurs at night, but it can also be seen during the day in the falling rays of the sun penetrating into the depths of the lake.
8. Lakes Kelimutu, Indonesia.
In Indonesia you can see the fantastic landscapes of three crater lakes, which can change color according to their mood. Basically, the lakes take on the color of blue, olive and blood red. To climb to the top of the volcano, a special path was made for tourists, but not everyone uses it, but goes around it along the edge of the lakes, which is very dangerous due to the vapors emanating from the water.
9. Lake Balkhash, Kazakhstan.
This lake is special because it consists of salt and fresh water. A small peninsula divides it into two parts, which are strikingly different from each other. This lake is a popular destination for fishermen and hunters as it is home to many species of fish and birds.
10. Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
This Kenyan lake is considered one of the most amazing sights on the entire planet. Its unusualness lies not only in its nature, but also in its inhabitants. Since the lake has high salinity, there is practically no fish here, but this place is very popular with birds, namely pink flamingos. The number of these birds is simply amazing, because here you can see thousands and even more species of large and small flamingos, which is not something you see every day.
11. Lake of Five Flowers, China.
The lake is located in one of the nature reserves in China, Jiuzhaigou. This reservoir has several features: it is the only local water source that does not freeze in the winter, every season the lake changes its color from yellow to green, and its water is so transparent that through great depth you can clearly see the bottom of this amazing swimming pool
12. Lake Hamilton Pool, USA.
In Texas you can see a very amazing lake, which is both underground and above ground. Hamilton Pool has in its water area a 15-meter waterfall, a beautiful arch made of limestone rocks, and of course, a picturesque lake that many tourists from all over the world love to visit.
Extraordinarily beautiful colored reservoirs are scattered across the globe - emerald, crimson, yellow, scarlet, deep blue, white and black. Each of them has its own character, its own history. But the attractiveness of these oases of nature or, on the contrary, creations of human hands, deserves to get acquainted with them! Today we admire fabulous photographs of rivers, lakes and ponds that make people talk about themselves!
Caño Cristales
The “Crystal River” is a real decoration of the Macarena National Park in Colombia, and carries its clean, transparent waters from the nearest mountain range to the east, before it flows into the Guayabero River.
Local residents also call it the “River of Five Colors” for a reason - in the bed of this water artery there are five colors: yellow, blue, green, black and red.
Moreover, the palette directly depends on the time of year: numerous algae multiply rapidly in different seasons and enhance the color of the water.
For example, in the summer you can observe the vigorous activity of the Macarenia Clavijera plant, thanks to which the river acquires a rich red color.
Due to the unique characteristics of the riverbed, there is no fish in Caño Cristales, but you can safely plunge into its cool waters - through the transparent surface the river can be seen to the very bottom.
Spotted Lake, Canada
In Canadian British Columbia, not far from the border with the United States, there is an unusual salt lake - Spotted Lake, which the local Indians call in the same way - Khiluk.
Its fantastic appearance is not its only advantage, because Spotted Lake has the highest concentration of magnesium, sodium and calcium sulfates in the world.
The summer heat evaporates moisture from the reservoir, leaving such bizarre multi-colored spots on the ground, reminiscent of some kind of alien landscape.
San Francisco Salt Ponds
These colorful salt ponds were not created by nature - they are rather artificial and commercial in nature. Sea water is evaporated in them to extract salt.
Despite the obvious differences from each other, all these ponds are almost identical in composition, and their color depends on the algae and microorganisms that live in the reservoirs.
The saltier the lake, the more red pigment there is in the algae. Ponds of medium salinity acquire yellow, pink or coral shades, and the least saline ponds are colored greenish.
If you observe bodies of water during rain, you will notice that the color of the water changes or the lakes become transparent for a while. But you can truly appreciate the splendor of the salt ponds from a bird's eye view.
"Milk" lakes
They seem to have been created specifically to refute the established stereotype of “white and fluffy.” Lakes of this color are a living hell on Earth, since they are filled not with water, but with concentrated solutions of sulfuric and hydrochloric acids. Acrid vapors rise from their boiling surface, caused by volcanic gases that strongly heat the liquid, escaping from cracks at the bottom of the lakes. All living things avoid such bodies of water, although sparse vegetation can be observed along the banks. A similar lake can be seen on the island of Kunashir (Kuril Islands), as well as on the Japanese Islands and on the island of Java in Indonesia.
Ink Lake
Black lakes also do not promise anything “resort” - starting with reservoirs with liquid asphalt and ending with Ink Lake, located near the city of Sidi Bel Abbes in Algeria. Oddly enough, nature itself and His Majesty Chance worked on its creation. Two rivers flow into the lake, also called the Inkwell or the Eye of the Devil, one of which contains a large amount of iron salts, and the other - a variety of organic compounds borrowed from peat bogs. As a result of chemical reactions when mixing two streams, real ink is formed - poisonous and unsuitable for fish and other living organisms. But people are taking full advantage of this natural phenomenon - ink obtained from the lake is sold not only in stationery stores not only in Algeria, but also in a number of other countries.
Colored trio on Flores Island
In Indonesia, in the craters of the Keli Mutu volcano on the island of Flores, there are three lakes of different colors. The emerald-turquoise locals call Tiwa-Nua-Muri-Kooh-Tai, which translates as “Lake of Youths and Girls” - according to legend, the souls of young people go here after death. Another lake is clear, with a rich grassy color - Tivu-Ata-Mbupu, which translates as “Lake of the Elders”. These reservoirs are colored green by sulfuric and hydrochloric acids formed due to volcanic gases.
The third lake is dark red, almost black - Tiwu Ata Polo, which means “Lake of Enchanted People”. According to legends, the souls of sinners are sent here. And its color is associated with iron oxide, the concentration of which is constantly increasing.
Red Ponds
Among tourists, the Bloody Pond (Chinoike Jigoku) is one of the most famous Bellu springs located in Japan. Hot geysers emit more than 50 thousand cubic meters of water per day, and clouds of vapor from active volcanoes gather over the lake. Translated from Japanese, the name of the reservoir means “Hell”, and local residents associate many dark legends with it. The pond got its unusual color due to the presence of a large amount of iron oxide in the water, or, more simply, rust.
Another reason for the reddish color of the water can be purple bacteria, as in the unique two-color lake on the island of Kyushu. One half of it is painted pink, and the other half has acquired a yellow color due to sulfur impurities.
But it turns out that lakes can be more than just scarlet - they can be fragrant! Near Astrakhan there are salt lakes that smell of raspberries or violets. And the salt extracted from them, with the same persistent aroma, has a pink or apricot tint - this is exactly the pleasure that was supplied to the table of Empress Catherine II. Where does nature get such extraordinary flavors from? The secret, as it turned out, is not in flowers or berries - but in small salt-loving red brine shrimp, which serve as a favorite delicacy for pink flamingos. The magical aromas that tantalize the sense of smell are actually associated with the decomposition of dead crustaceans, which, however, does not make the salt itself worse.
Turquoise lakes
They look like illustrations from a children’s book—the water seems to have been drawn by an unknown artist with a blue pencil. However, the answer lies in the large amount of hydrogen sulfide that underground springs supply the lake with - dissolving in water, they give the reservoirs an intense blue or blue-green color, reminiscent of a solution of copper sulfate. You can admire such masterpieces of nature in the Caucasus Mountains, in the Chersky Gorge of Kabardino-Balkaria or, for example, in the Carpathians. Here, not far from the city of Svalyava, there is a beautiful blue lake with a simple name - Sinyak. Why not an idea for eco-tourism?
P.S. Advertisements on the topic: I will sell premises for production in Moscow without intermediaries.
As you know, 71 percent of our Earth's surface is covered with water. From space, our beloved planet looks like a blue ball because bodies of water reflect the sun's rays in the blue spectrum.
Photos from NASA spacecraft show us a magnificent view of the marble-blue Earth from space. Our world is full of beautiful rivers, lakes, impressive waterfalls, stunning glaciers and clear reservoirs surrounded by snowy mountains. Fortunately, each of us can see all these magnificent creations of nature.
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10Suez Canal, Egypt
160 kilometers long, 300 meters wide - this is the size of this artificial waterway that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. The Suez Canal is considered the shortest route between Europe and Asia. This makes transporting goods and trade much easier, cutting down complex routes around Africa. Currently, the Suez Canal is one of the busiest waterways in the world, and it has had far fewer accidents than other similar structures.
The construction of the Suez Canal took a total of 10 years. Since 1859, ships from all countries could already pass through the Suez Canal, carrying cargo along the Europe-Asia route. The Suez Canal's advanced radar control system monitors every vessel passing through. In emergency situations, this system allows emergency services to respond immediately, thereby reducing the risks for ships passing through the canal.
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9Bora Bora, France
Bora Bora is one of the most beautiful international tourism destinations in the world. This group of islands is a territorial part of France and is located in the Pacific Ocean. Bora Bora is home to white sandy beaches, blue lagoons and glamorous resorts that are always very popular among holidaymakers.
Currently, it is tourism that supports the entire economy of the island. Glazed, comfortable villas make this place a tourist paradise. Snorkeling and diving in crystal clear waters attract thousands of people who want to enjoy the beauty of the water element and relax on the sunny beaches of Bora Bora.
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8Lake Baikal, Siberia
Lake Baikal is the oldest and deepest lake in the world. It is located in South-Eastern Siberia. The lake has a depth of 1700 m, and was formed 25 million years ago from a real prehistoric sea. 20 percent of the total volume of fresh water in the world is contained in Baikal. Around the lake there are picturesque nature reserves protected by the government. Pure and beautiful Baikal is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In the Baikal region, there are many cultural, archaeological and historical values. The surrounding area of the lake is home to 1,340 species of animals. Many of them are unique and are found only in the Baikal region. Ancient mountains, mighty taiga and small islands make the Baikal region one of the most biologically diverse places in the world.
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7Great Blue Hole, Belize
This is a large natural underwater drainage well located 70 kilometers from sea level, in the center of the barrier reef in Belize. Its huge funnel is 120 meters deep and 300 meters in diameter. It was formed during the Ice Age, 150,000 years ago, before the glaciers completely disappeared. The gradual melting of ice and rising sea levels precisely caused the formation of this miracle of nature.
The Great Blue Hole became a World Heritage Site in 1997. More than 500 rare forms of animals and plants live here. Every year, this natural sinkhole attracts many tourists from all over the world who come here, mainly for scuba diving.
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Venice is a group of 117 small islands separated by canals and connected by bridges. The canals divide the city into 117 small cozy islands. From time immemorial, these waterways have been used as the main transport network in Venice. The Grand Canal, the city's main waterway, is the largest canal in Venice, 3.8 km long and 60 - 90 meters wide.
A Grand Canal tour is the best way to explore Venice while gaining in-depth knowledge of the city's historical importance. For larger tours of Venice, gondolas, traditional punts, and more modern motorboats are used. You will be able to take a close look at all the beauty of historical buildings, palaces, churches and see the famous hundred-year-old Rialto Bridge.
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5Dead Sea, Jordan
The Dead Sea is one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world, located on the border of Israel and Jordan. The salinity of the Dead Sea fluctuates on average between 34-35 percent. This is almost ten times more than ordinary salt sea water. The increased salt content in the water causes the complete absence of aquatic flora and fauna, which is why this lake is called the “Dead Sea”. The lake is located 423 meters below sea level, and is the lowest place on land.
Such a high concentration of salt allows tourists to effortlessly swim in the Dead Sea, almost without moving their limbs. This water benefits human health as it contains large amounts of beneficial minerals such as potassium, calcium, sulfur and bromine. The Dead Sea can cure various skin conditions and help you get rid of toxins. It is said that Dead Sea minerals were transported to Egypt in ancient times, where they were used to mummify Egyptian pharaohs.
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The Nile is the longest river in our world, with an approximate length of 6650 kilometers. It starts in Burundi and passes through Kenya, Erythra, Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, where it meets the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile played a very important role in the life of the ancient Egyptians.
The river was the main source of food, water and a waterway for transporting goods between countries. At the same time, when the Nile overflowed its banks as a result of seasonal rains, all the lands of Egypt were flooded with water for a long time. This helped the ancient Egyptians easily grow seeds of cultivated plants.
All historical monuments of Egypt, including the pyramids, are located near the banks of the Nile. The Nile Delta covers an area of up to 160 kilometers in width and as many as 40 million people live around it using the waters of the sacred river.
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3Niagara Falls, United States of America
Niagara Falls is located on the border between Canada and the United States. Niagara consists of three waterfalls, American Stream, Bridlevale and Horseshoe. These three falls together create a water flow of 85,000 feet per second. This is the highest water flow in the world. The Horseshoe is the largest of Niagara's three waterfalls, and most of it is located closer to Canada. "American Stream" and "Bridevale" are located in the United States.
Niagara was formed 10,000 years ago during the Wisconsin Glaciation. The brilliant green color of the water at Niagara Falls is caused by salt and rock mixing with the water at high speeds. The whirlpool created by Niagara Falls has an area of 1.2 kilometers. Its depth is the same as the height of Niagara, and is 52 meters. Water from Niagara flows into Lake Ontario in the Canadian province.
Amazing video of Niagara Falls:
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2Victoria Falls on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in the world, and is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. It is located on the Zambezi River between the states of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Victoria Falls extends over a mile in width, and provides a drop of water of five hundred million cubic meters per minute. The water falls to a depth of 93 meters and sprays heavily, crashing against the rocks. Because of this water cloud, Victoria Falls is visible at a distance of 50 kilometers to the naked eye.
The strong spray of water causes constant rain in the forests surrounding the waterfall. Surprisingly, you can swim on the edge of the waterfall without much risk. The natural stone side will not allow you to fall down along with the water. This pool is known as the Devil's Pool. During the full moon, one of the most magnificent natural phenomena known as the “Moon Rainbow” occurs at Victoria Falls. A beautiful rainbow is visible at this time above the waterfall, in the bright moonlight refracted by the water splashes.
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1Great Barrier Reef, Australia
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. These are 900 islands connected together with a length of more than 2,300 kilometers. The reef is large enough to be seen from space and is recognized as a national symbol of Australia. The Great Barrier Reef contains more than 3,000 individual reefs created by microorganisms over millions of years. It was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981.
The Great Barrier Reef supports a huge diversity of marine life. About 1,500 species of fish, 3,000 species of shellfish, 500 species of worms, 133 species of sharks and rays, and 30 species of whales and dolphins live there. The tourism industry is very developed here. Glass-bottom boat tours, exciting scuba diving and kayaking are popular among holidaymakers. The Great Barrier Reef attracts around 2 million visitors every year.
