What is the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System?
The coastal area of Belize is an outstanding natural system consisting of the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere, offshore atolls, several hundred sand cays, mangrove forests, coastal lagoons and estuaries.
Why is the Belize Barrier Reef important to Belize?
It is the basis of the national fishing industry and in large measure tourism, which is the greatest contributor to GDP and economic livelihood. 1.4 The Belize Barrier Reef is not only of great importance to the nation and people of Belize, but also the wider global citizenry.
What type of reef is the Belize Barrier Reef?
coral reefs
The Belize Barrier Reef is one of four types of coral reefs: fringing, barrier, atolls and patch. Barrier reefs, like fringing reefs, run parallel to the coastline but are separated from land by a deeper, wider body of water.
Why is the Belize Barrier Reef famous?
In 1842, Charles Darwin described the Belize Barrier Reef as the “most remarkable reef in the West Indies.” The Belize Barrier Reef provides important habitat for a number of threatened marine species including the West Indian manatee, green turtle hawksbill turtle, loggerhead turtle and the American crocodile.
What are the 3 largest barrier reefs?
When diving for a great catch, check out these largest reefs in the world.
- Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
- Red Sea Coral Reef, Israel, Egypt and Djibouti.
- New Caledonia Barrier Reef, South Pacific.
- MesoAmerican Barrier Reef, Atlantic Ocean.
- Florida Reef, Florida.
- Andros Coral Reef, Bahamas.
- Saya Del Malha, Indian Ocean.
Is the Belize Barrier Reef in danger?
But ecosystems in the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System have already been damaged by coastal construction, and potential oil drilling poses a major threat. In 2009, UNESCO placed Belize’s reef system on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Who has the largest barrier reef?
The Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Queensland, Australia, is the world’s largest coral reef. The reef is made up of 3000 reef systems and is the only living organism that’s visible from space. The Great Barrier Reef stretches more than 1,800 miles and tops 40 miles wide in some places.
What is the smallest coral reef in the world?
As an example, Benares Shoals is a coral reef located in the Indian Ocean that has an area of just two square kilometers.
What is the largest coral reef system in the world?
the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
Some key facts about the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park: covers 344,400 km2 in area. includes the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem. includes some 3000 coral reefs, 600 continental islands, 300 coral cays and about 150 inshore mangrove islands.
How is the Belize Barrier Reef being protected?
Environmental protection. A large portion of the reef is protected by the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, which includes seven marine reserves, 450 cayes, and three atolls.
When did Belize ban bottom trawling in Belize?
Belize became the first country in the world to completely ban bottom trawling in December 2010. In December 2015, Belize banned offshore oil drilling within 1 km of the Barrier Reef. Despite these protective measures, the reef remains under threat from oceanic pollution as well as uncontrolled tourism, shipping,…
Who was the first person to visit the Belize Barrier Reef?
Celebrities love it – The most famous visitor to the Belize Barrier Reef was the evolutionary pioneer Charles Darwin, who explored it in 1842. In 1971, the famous French marine biologist Jacques Cousteau brought the Belize Barrier Reef to the world’s attention, declaring it one of the best diving spots on the planet.
Which is the most easterly diving area in Belize?
Lighthouse Reef is the most easterly diving area in Belize, it is home to the Great Blue Hole, made famous by Jacques Cousteau in 1970; Turneffe Atoll lies directly to the east of Belize City and is the nearest of the atolls to the capital.