Australia is home to the Great Barrier Reef.
100 Mind-Blowing Barrier Facts
Crocodile poop was the first contraceptive. The Ancient Egyptians certainly had a unique way of doing things. One of the fun facts about Egypt is how they practised safe sex: Women would insert crocodile dung into their vaginas. (Uh, fun?!) The science was that it would soften when it reached body temperature, forming a barrier.
Farmers plant tall, dense trees on the edges of farms. The trees provide a barrier to harsh weather and prevent soil erosion.
Coral reefs are Earth’s largest living structure. Coral reefs are not only beautiful natural wonders but also the largest living structure on Earth. These underwater ecosystems are made up of colonies of tiny animals called coral polyps, which build calcium carbonate skeletons that accumulate over time and form the complex structures we know as coral reefs. Coral reefs are incredibly diverse and play a vital role in the ocean ecosystem, providing habitat and protection for many species, and acting as a natural barrier that helps to protect coastlines from storms and erosion. Unfortunately, coral reefs are under threat from a range of environmental factors, including ocean acidification, rising temperatures and global warming. ESA research has shown how our ocean waters have become more acidic over the last three decades and how this is having a detrimental effect on marine life. By using satellite technology to measure ocean colour, temperature and salinity, scientists can track changes in ocean chemistry and detect areas where acidification is occurring. Rising temperatures can also have a direct impact on coral reefs, causing coral bleaching, which occurs when corals expel the algae that live in their tissues and provide them with food. Coral bleaching can lead to the death of the coral, which can have knock-on effects on the wider ecosystem.