Bonnie Jupiter, age 14, of Albany, New York, for her question:

 How big is the Great Barrier Reef?

It is, without doubt, the biggest submerged and partly submerged bank of coral formations in the entire world. The Great Barrier Reef is located off the northeastern coast of Australia. From end to end it measures about 1,200 miles. But the long .. barrier is not unbroken. It is formed in irregular chains, more or less parallel with the shore. Some chains run side by side and some overlap. Here and there are breaches wide enough for ships to pass through. Some of the coral banks lie ten miles from the shore and some are 150 miles out in the Pacific.

The immense formation is a marine wonderland. The major structure was built by assorted coral creatures through millions of years. Their work is infinitely varied and infinitely beautiful. Under the blue green water, many of them are tinted with rainbow colors and they resemble flowery gardens. And the wondrous realm is populated with a vast variety of gaudy little fishes and other amazing marine animals.