June 11: Captain Cook Gets Stuck on the Great Barrier Reef (1770)
Prayer Idea
Pray for people living today to take care of natural wonders for future generations.
History Note
The Great Barrier Reef, located off the northeastern coast of Australia, is the world’s largest coral reef system. A reef forms as sediment collects around marine plants and animals living close together, forming an underwater ecosystem.
Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders explored the Great Barrier Reef over the centuries, referring to it as part of the “Sea Country.” Spearfishing is one important way these indigenous peoples utilized the resources of the reef.
Captain James Cook was a British explorer who led a crew on the HMS Endeavour through the Pacific Ocean. On June 11, 1770, the ship got stuck on the Great Barrier Reef at a location now known as Endeavor Reef. For nearly 24 hours, the crew attempted to free the vessel by throwing cannons, casks, and other supplies overboard.
When they finally got the ship floating again, they landed on shore to make repairs. It took about six weeks for the ship to be ready to sail again. As Captain Cook and his crew carefully navigated the reef, they made detailed maps and charts that would help future navigators avoid facing the same problem!
Published in 1773, this is a “Chart of Part of the Coast of New South Wales, from Cape Tribulation to Endeavour Straits” based on the drawings of Captain James Cook and his crew. In the lower left corner of the chart is an indication of where the Endeavor was stuck. This section of the Great Barrier Reef is labeled as “The Labyrinth.” Image courtesy the American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.
Learn More
This video provides a glimpse of the natural beauty of the Great Barrier Reef.
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