Q. The largest coral reef in the world is found near the coast of which one of the following countries? (UPSC Prelims 2007)
Answer: Australia
Notes: The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system, stretches over 2,300 km off Queensland, Australia's coast, covering 344,400 km² with 2,900 reefs and 900 islands. Visible from space, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981 and is built by coral polyps supporting vast biodiversity. None of the other options host such a reef, confirming Australia as the correct answer.