The giant kelp forest of the Southern Reef is the latest subject to receive a Google Doodle on an important anniversary.
The search engine honoured the Australian natural wonder with the graphic today (Thursday, December 5).
The image is being shown on the Google home screen in the UK and other parts of the world.
It follows previous Google Doodles, including a chess-themed graphic from last month to celebrate a championship, and a video to mark what would have been the birthday of the producer Sophie Xeon.
Here is what it all means.
5 years ago today, the Great Southern Reef was officially recognised as a new 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁 by Mission Blue.
— UWA Oceans Institute (@uwaoceans) December 5, 2024
Google has honoured the Reef by featuring kelp on its homepage, shining a global spotlight on this unparalleled ecosystem. https://t.co/AM9JIxxrAc
What is the Google Doodle on Thursday?
The giant kelp forest of the Southern Reef, a natural wonder that is at risk, is the subject of the day.
The Great Southern Reef stretches 8,000km below Australia and has a system of rocky reefs connected by kelp, a fast-growing seaweed with a leaf-like appearance.
“Kelp thrives in cold, slow-moving water and provides shelter for sea-floor animals like stingrays, spider crabs, and rock lobsters,” a Google write-up states.
Kelp plays an important ecological role but is under threat from climate change and the reef is at a point where waters have warmed at an alarming rate.
To try to help protect it, the Great Southern Reef was officially named a new Hope Spot by Mission Blue – a conservation project – on December 5, 2019. It means that Thursday is the fifth anniversary.
“Marine -estoration efforts are underway, including a method called upscaling: creating self-sustaining seed patches that grow where kelp once was,” Google adds.
“Here's to preserving this natural wonder!”
