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The Great Barrier Reef is a psyche- delic underwater playground for divers with the world’s largest net- work of coral reef. The area boasts 400 types of coral, 1500 species of fish, 4000 types of mollusk, 30 kinds of whales, and a variety of dolphins, porpoises, and sea turtles. Not only does the Great Barrier Reef provide a beautiful scenery here on earth, but it is one of the few structures that is visible from space. This natural wonder covers an area of 348,000 square kilometers and can reach over 2000 meters deep in places. Most recently, some have blamed rising sea temperatures for bleach- ing and killing coral reefs in the area. However scientists say this protected zone is not past the point of recovery.
Great Barrier Reef
Queensland, Australia
Pitons, Cirques and Remparts of Reunion Island
South-West Indian Ocean
La Reunion Island may be one of the lesser known World Heritage sites, but it is none the less strikingly beautiful. The scene is set by two major volcanic peaks, large rock walls and cliff-rimmed cirques. The Piton de la Fournaise volcano is one of the most active in the world, with frequent, but however short eruptions. This site contains a variety of ecosystems including heaths, cloud forests and sub- tropical rainforests. The 970 square mile island has a surprising population of around 845,000 that have a love of nature and pride for their homeland. An under- standable respect for their surroundings given it’s “most significant and important contribution to the conservation of the terrestrial biodiversity of the Mascarene Islands,” according to UNESCO. Visitors of the Island can choose from a multitude of hiking trails, climbing on the magnif- icent cliffs, and paragliding over the vol- canos, to name a few of the adventures to be had here.
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