The World's Best Vacation Destination in Pictures

Get to know the Great Barrier Reef, the world's top vacation destination according to a new ranking by U.S. News & World Report, in 15 stunning images provided as a slideshow by MSN.com.

The reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, joins Paris and Bora Bora, French Polynesia, as the top three destinations to vacation in the world.

The reef stretches for more than 2,000 kilometers along Australia's Queensland coastline, is visible from space and is also one of the seven wonders of the world. It is the largest coral reef system on the planet and offers beautiful scenery both above and below the water.

Many visit the reef for its stunning diving opportunities but there are also luxurious accommodations in places such as Hamilton Island, which lies at the threshold of the reef.

These 15 photos of life on the Great Barrier Reef are sure to inspire a visit.

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