HOW BIG
DiscoverEarth

Earth

Great Barrier Reef: size, dimension and comparison

The adopted reference is about 2,300 km.

approximate extent

2,300 km = 2,300,000 m. A kilometer contains 1,000 meters.

A reef system whose length follows the Australian coast.

Explore at this scale
Great Barrier Reef, interpreted illustration
Interpreted illustration · dimension stated in the fact sheet.

What does this number measure?

A reef system whose length follows the Australian coast. Displayed dimension: approximate extent.

Compare the stated dimensions

The comparison uses the number in each fact sheet: altitude, height, diameter, length or distance, depending on the reference. Two values in metres do not necessarily describe the same property.

Compare with Greenland in the explorer →

Source and limitations

Catalogue value to check against the source; not individually audited.

Interpreted map view, north at the top; schematic course and reef distribution. The roughly 2 300 km refers to the system's extent along the coast, not the drawing's straight vertical height.