Australia 

Destruction ongoing

The Disappointed Tourist: Great Barrier Reef, Ellen Harvey, 2021. Oil and acrylic on Gessoboard, 18 x 24″ (46 x 61 cm). Photograph: Etienne Frossard.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system, composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometers (133,000 square miles). It is located in the Coral Sea off the coast of Queenland. It is so large that it can be seen from outer space and is the world’s biggest single structure made by living organisms. It was designated a World Heritage Site in 1981. Although much of the reef is protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, the impact of fishing, tourism, run-off, pollution, climate change and other human-made environmental pressures have led to the reef losing over half of its coral cover. Climate change in particular has led to catastrophic bleaching events and the future of the reef is considered at risk.

I chose this place because I have always wanted to go there, like my mum did, but it’s slowly going away.  Anon.

 Also requested by Will G.

I want to see it the way it was. Anon