The Great Barrier Reef is worth $42 billion. It's also under serious threat.

The Great Barrier Reef is an expansive wonder filled with thousands of marine species and over 600 coral types. It's naturally priceless. But think of it as a business, or prime piece of real estate, and the Australian reef is worth a hefty sum of money.

The 133,000-square-mile coral reef system represents around $56 billion AUD — or $42.4 billion in U.S. dollars — in economic, social, and brand value, according to Deloitte Access Economics, a consulting firm in Australia. The high dollar figure illustrates how essential the reef is to Australia's economy.

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via Tech Republiq