Fascinating underwater world
RAMYA KANNAN
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Explore the wonderful, colourful world of corals — in a tank!
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Reef HQ is the world’s largest living corals available on land, in a tank.
Photo: Ramya Kannan
Great Barrier Reef: The largest natural feature on earth. Photo: Ramya Kannan
It is said that the Great Barrier Reef is the largest natural feature on earth and can be seen from outer space. Well, if it is that easy, then you should be able to see it from where you sit in your classroom too!
It actually is that simple. Technology will help you explore the wonderfully colourful and diverse underwater world of corals. You can do this through Reef HQ Aquarium, the education centre of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. You just
have to ask.
Reef HQ is the world’s largest living corals available on land, in a tank. It is the original idea of Dr. Graeme Kelleher, a former chairperson of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority — he wanted to create a replica of the reef on land, so that more people would get to see and appreciate its beauty at a low cost. It came up in Townsville in Queensland, Australia, in June 1987.
Experience
Craig McGrogan, one of the guides at Reef HQ, takes a visitor around, explaining the process of purifying water (more than 3.5 litres!), growing the corals and feeding other fish in the huge tanks. While over 1, 00,000 visitors have been to the Reef HQ, several more children have actually seen it.
Thanks to video conferencing, Fred Nucifora who is the education manager for the GBRMPA says experts in Reef HQ will explain the various features of the corals to children around the world through video conferences.
A diver gets into the tank strapped with an underwater video camera, which is wired to a computer. This live video is then sent through web cameras to different classrooms. Children who are watching can speak to the diver, even from as far away as India, and ask him questions.
Just make sure your school has videoconferencing equipment or your class can go to a place which is well connected. Before that, remember to contact Reef HQ (Ph: 07 4750 0800) or check their website www.reefHQ.com.au to see if they can help you out.
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What are Corals?
Corals are animals that are made up of a skeleton covered by the tissue of tiny plants called zooxanthellae. The zooxanthellae give corals their colour and live within them, providing them energy to grow.
Facts from Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
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