When did the Great Barrier Reef begin forming?
Quick Answer
The modern Great Barrier Reef began forming about 20,000 years ago, after the last Ice Age ended and sea levels rose. Much of the reef sits on much older foundations, but the present barrier reef is geologically young.
The Full Story
The modern Great Barrier Reef began forming around 20,000 years ago, when the last Ice Age was ending and rising sea levels flooded the continental shelf off Queensland. Coral reefs had existed in the region before that, but the current large barrier system developed as warmer, shallower seas returned. The reef we see today is built on older limestone structures and reef deposits from earlier periods. It is the world’s largest coral reef system, stretching for about 2,300 kilometers. Its present shape is therefore young in geological terms, even though the area has a much deeper reef history.
Key Facts
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"How a melting Ice Age built the world’s biggest reef"