You may not be able to hop on a plane to Australia at the moment, but you can still visit – albeit virtually – and appreciate one of the seven wonders of the natural world, the Great Barrier Reef.
Fans of BBC’s Plant Earth and Netlix’s Our Planet will be thrilled to hear that the tour will be guided by none other than Sir David Attenborough.
The British historian is navigating explorers through the breathtaking Great Barrier Reef, in an “interactive journey” named “David Attenborough’s Barrier Reef.”
For adults, it’s a virtual escape from the walls of your home and for kids, it doubles as an escape and educational tool that should keep them occupied for a while.
Visitors board the virtual Alucia expedition vessel and make their way to different points throughout the reef along Australia’s coast.
Along the way, you will learn how coral grows, the view of the world through the eyes of the mantis shrimp, which has the most complex visual system in the animal kingdom, and that the bottom of the coral reefs actually emits a cacophony of different sounds.
“With over 1,500 species of fish, 600 coral species and 30 different whale and dolphin species, it is one of the most biodiverse and complex ecosystems on the planet,” Attenborough said in a statement.
The program includes a number of chapters to guide you through 2,300 kilometers of Australia’s coastline, which includes a map that lets you know just how far you’ve travelled along the coast.
Aside from providing cultural entertainment, Attenborough hopes to raise awareness for the “beautiful but threatened” Great Barrier Reef. The program also includes actionable steps that need to be taken in order to ensure the ecosystem’s long term survival.
