Impact of Cyclone Yasi on Great Barrier Reef

11:26 AM Mon 7 Feb 2011 GMT

'The GBR streaches over 1500km along the Queensland coast.' Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Click Here to view large photo

Cyclone Yasi is expected to have damaged some parts of the Great Barrier Reef, with severe damage likely to have occurred along the cyclone track as it crossed the Reef and reached the coast near Mission Beach. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) Chairman Russell Reichelt said that because the cyclone tracked across rather than along the length of the Reef, most other parts of the 340,000sq km World Heritage-listed Marine Park are expected to have escaped damage from the cyclone. 'Cyclones are regular events and do affect the coral reef ecosystem dramatically,' Dr Reichelt said. 'However, they tend ...

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by Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority