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Belize barrier reef. wonders of the planet. Belize Barrier Reef Protecting the Environment

The Caribbean is famous for the most mysterious islands and coastline, the biosphere of which has not yet been studied even by 10%. One of the most beautiful places in Caribbean waters is the approximately 280 km long Belize Barrier Reef that runs along the coast of Belize in Central America.

This is an integral part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, whose length from the Guatemalan coast to the northernmost borders of the Yucatan Peninsula is more than 900 km in total.

Tourist gem of the Caribbean

The main attraction and tourism center of Belize is the Belize Barrier Reef, which runs just 13-14 km from the coast. It is the largest reef aggregation and ranks second in the world, second only to Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

The Belize Barrier Reef is a chain of coral reefs - Ternef, with small islands of various sizes (approximately 450), picturesque bays, shoals (more than 540) and magnificent lagoons.

The most famous explorer of the sea depths among our contemporaries, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, established the non-volcanic nature of the origin of the reef, which distinguishes it from the nature of the origin of most reef accumulations.

Countries that are located near the Belize Barrier Reef are Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. The water areas of the Gulf of Honduras surround the reef and warm sea currents pass here, which keep the temperature of water and air at approximately the same level throughout the year, creating special climatic conditions.

Historical information

There is evidence from archaeological expeditions that even before our era, tribes of Indians lived here, who later moved to the mainland and became residents of Honduras, Panama and other states of America.

The name of this reef is also due to prehistoric settlers, although there is an opinion about the influence of conquistadors and settlers from South Africa. The first scientific description of the Belize Barrier Reef in North America belongs to Darwin, who was delighted with the variety of unique plants and animals and for the first time gave them detailed characteristics.

In the Middle Ages, the reef was chosen by pirates who ruled in the waters of the Caribbean Sea and equipped places for storing and selling stolen treasures on the islands. Subsequently, their descendants settled here and became fishermen, moved to the mainland and made up the bulk of the population of Belize and neighboring states.

World Heritage List

In 1996, the UNESCO World Heritage List was supplemented by the unique ecosystems of the Belize Barrier Reef. The territories under protection cover more than 900 square kilometers. Significant objects of world heritage include:

  • A large blue hole with a stunning ;
  • marine reserves Glovers Reef and Hol Chan with their richest underwater world;
  • natural monument of Half Moon Key, where you can meet rare species of birds and turtles.

blue hole caribbean

A large blue hole with a depth of about 300 m in diameter is a truly unique natural phenomenon, similar to a funnel with amazingly blue water and a coral border. This miracle of nature is rightfully considered the most beautiful place in the Caribbean. Its appearance on the site of a dry cave was caused by a rise in sea level, followed by flooding.

Stalactites on the sheer walls of the cave form ledges and at the same time convenient viewing platforms of natural origin. Visibility through the water column - 60 m, amazingly rich underwater world, the opportunity to study rare species of marine life attract professional divers from all over the world. No less impressive is the Blue Hole from a bird's eye view.

marine reserves

From the town of San Pedro on Ambergris Island, Hol Chan Marine Sanctuary is within minutes. The variety of species living in the reserve is amazing: sea turtles, corals and sea sponges, many species of rays, dolphins, several varieties of sharks and more than one and a half hundred species of fish. Diving sessions are organized here for those who want to swim with sharks and feed them, of course, in compliance with safety measures.

The Glovers Reef Marine Reserve is no less rich in beauty and just as rich in various sea creatures. Divers of all skill levels will enjoy diving, and those who wish to explore the underwater world will make a lot of discoveries for themselves.

Half Moon Key Natural Monument is home to hundreds of species of birds and sea turtles. Some species of birds, such as the red-footed booby, live only here.

Since the natural heritage of the Belize Barrier Reef has been declared a protected area, hunting and fishing are prohibited in all protected areas, as well as the export of any resources.

Tourism in Belize

The favorable climate, the most beautiful underwater world, many attractions and ideal conditions for diving attract tourists from all over the world to Belize. The government of the country supports the desire of travelers from all over the world to visit the beauty located near the reef.

In recent years, many hotels have been built on the territory of the island reefs with a high level of service, which is able to satisfy the wildest expectations. A system of communication between the islands has been established, many water, helicopter, underwater and land excursions have been organized. Beginners can take a diving course and get an international certificate right here.

In addition to the impressions of observing the underwater world and visiting famous sights and protected areas, tourists will be interested in seeing the Belize Zoo, Butfield Park and Government House. The most interesting excursion routes at an affordable price, almost untouched nature and the opportunity to get a lot of impressions from extreme sports make visiting the Belize Reef an adventure to remember for a lifetime.

Ecology and tasks of its conservation

Infrastructure development, poaching and an ever-increasing influx of tourists are harming the ecosystem of a unique reef. On the one hand, the profit from the tourism industry allows you to develop the economy. On the other hand, tons of garbage that visitors leave behind pollute a unique natural site and kill the inhabitants of the sea. Harvesting fish using dangerous chemicals, trapping sea turtles and illegal spearfishing can lead to the fact that after some time there will be no trace of the diversity of species, and some of them will die out altogether.

The accumulation of toxic waste and the rise in ultraviolet levels in the water leads to the so-called bleaching of corals, which can lead to the disappearance of the most beautiful reef chain and the entire ecosystem. The protective measures of the Belize government and the assistance of the world organization UNESCO should help to preserve this amazing creation of nature. Our descendants must see the Belize Barrier Reef, so it is important to preserve this amazing natural object for them in the most original form.

general information

The Belize Barrier Reef reserves include 7 marine reserves, 450 reefs and 3 atolls. The total area of ​​protected areas reaches 960 km². They include:

  • Glovers Reef Marine Reserve
  • great blue hole
  • Half Moon Key Natural Monument
  • Hol Chan Marine Reserve

The Belize Barrier Reef is an almost untouched underwater world. The sea bed between the reef and the mainland is flat and sandy, only in some places it rises to the surface, forming low islands overgrown with mangroves.

To the east, where the sea bed drops sharply, there are three separate atolls: the islets of Turnef, Glovers Reef and Lighthouse Reef. There is no better place for scuba diving! The flora and fauna in the coastal waters of Belize is the same as throughout the Caribbean, only much more vibrant and diverse.

Once a year, when the mating season begins, countless schools of white sea bass - barramundi and three-spined sticklebacks gather in the local waters; in addition, good-natured dolphins meet divers.

The coastal ecosystems of Belize have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1996 as one of the richest ecosystems in the world. The process of evolutionary development of reefs is presented at seven sites of the object. Also near the reef there are rare species of marine animals, such as sea turtles, manatee and American sharp-snouted crocodile. In addition, the reef is inhabited by:

  • 70 types of hard corals,
  • 36 types of soft corals,
  • 500 kinds of fish,
  • hundreds of species of invertebrates.

At the same time, according to scientists, only 10% of the species diversity of the reef has been discovered.

Story

The very first scientific (and admiring!) description of the reef was made by Charles Darwin (1809-1882) in 1842. He, in fact, opened this reef to the scientific world. Another important discovery was made in 1972 by Jacques-Yves Cousteau (1910-1997).

Most atolls are located in the Pacific Ocean, where they are the product of underwater volcanoes. The three atolls of the Belize Barrier Reef are of non-volcanic origin, proved Cousteau using the example of the Great Blue Hole he discovered - a karst funnel in the center of Lighthouse Reef, 120 m deep and 305 m in diameter. This is a collapse in the system of karst caves formed during the last ice age. Before its end, approximately 10,000 - 15,000 years ago, the ocean level was lower by 120-135 m, but when it rose, "holes" similar to this one formed in the karsts - with piercing blue water.

Approximately 450 islets, large and small coral reef formations are united by the general geographical concept of the Belize Barrier Reef, which, in turn, is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. The Belize Barrier Reef stretches along the mainland coast of Belize for a distance of approximately 3 km in the north to 40 km in the south. The prevailing currents in this part of the Caribbean Sea are southwesterly. In the southeastern, deepest part of the region, there are three ring-shaped coral atolls with lagoons: these are Turnef, Glovers Reef and Aitehouse Reef.

The Belize Barrier Reef received the highest score from UNESCO in 1996 - seven of its protected areas were included in the World Natural Heritage List.

Before that, it was popular both among experienced divers and beginners in snorkeling - swimming with a mask, snorkel and fins. But after receiving the prestigious certificate of world attractions, the reef experienced a real tourist boom. And today up to 140,000 people a year come here (the population of Belize is 334,300 people, 2013).

As a resort region, the Belize Barrier Reef began to develop in the second half of the 20th century, but even before that it had its own history. There is archaeological evidence that the Maya, who came to the territory of Belize in the III millennium BC. e., in the area of ​​the Belize barrier reef fished in the period from about 300 BC. e. to 900 AD e., after which the bulk of the "Belizean" Maya moved to the territory of present-day Mexico.

From the beginning of the 17th century the islands (kaye) of the reef were ruled by pirates, by origin English and Scots. All caye are islands of greenery - mainly mangrove vegetation, a total of 178 terrestrial plants, 247 species of coastal marine flora and about 200 species of birds nesting on the shores have been identified here. By the end of the XVIII century. the descendants of pirates became fishermen, whose catch was bought by merchants of the Mosquito Coast (now - the territory of Nicaragua). The Caye then experienced several waves of migration. Garifuna Indians and other tribes from Mexico moved here, and from about the middle of the 19th century. more and more white North Americans began to appear, who came to rest.

Climate

An amazing feature of the reef is its very location: thanks to the warm currents and tropical climate, the water temperature here does not drop even in the winter months, below + 25 degrees Celsius. In summer, the waters washing the Belize Barrier Reef are real "fresh milk", their temperature does not fall below +28 degrees. Such a temperature regime and excellent conditions for recreation (luxury hotels have been built on many small islands) attract hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.

Ecology

Naturally, the state of Belize receives huge profits from the developed tourism infrastructure, but, as they say, "every medal has a downside." With tons of garbage that tourists leave behind, local residents and special organizations, which include the vast majority of volunteers, can hardly cope.

Huge damage to the Belize Barrier Reef, which is devoted to entire cycles of special television programs, is also caused by poachers who fish with cyanide. In addition to valuable fish species, this deadly poison kills the rarest turtles that have survived only in these places, as well as corals, which are the main component of the ecosystem. Without them, all life in Belize will simply perish. Scientists give horrific figures. On one of the 7 wonders of the underwater world, 40% of corals died in 2009 alone. An area where corals die en masse is called a coral graveyard. This sight can make a depressing impression even on a not particularly impressionable person: in the place where until recently the corals shimmered with all the colors of the rainbow, and life was in full swing around them, everything turns gray, and to see even one fish in this place is a rare success.

Observing this state of affairs, the authorities of Belize, together with the UNESCO organization, which has included the Belize Barrier Reef in the World Heritage List, are carrying out a number of measures aimed at preserving all this amazing beauty for our descendants. Naturally, in the future this will bear fruit, and the Belize Barrier Reef will sparkle again with all its colors. True, he is threatened by another danger, which, alas, scientists cannot cope with - global warming.

Corals are designed in such a way that even with a slight increase in temperature, they stop reproducing and die. In fairness, it should be noted that the latest observations of oceanologists, as well as thermographic images taken from space, show that a sharp warming of the waters does not threaten the Belize Barrier Reef, which means that with the right and reasonable approach, the second largest reef in the world will succeed save. It is not so difficult to do this, you just need to pay attention to a number of measures taken by the authorities of the same Italy, who managed to preserve Sardinia in its original form and, at the same time, make it attractive to thousands of tourists.

The Belize Barrier Reef is a coral reef system that occupies the coastline of Belize, which belongs to Central America. This barrier reef in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean is the second largest in the world. Its length is close to 300 kilometers. It belongs to the list of outstanding natural attractions and is protected by UNESCO.

The Belize Barrier Reef is the main natural value of Belize, which is visited by about 130 thousand tourists annually.

The coral reef is a whole system of shoals, islets, as well as attols (ring-shaped reefs, where colorful lagoons are located).

Coral reefs must be protected by the state, since about a quarter of all marine flora and fauna are located here. Experts have calculated that if we leave things to chance and do not control sea water pollution, fishing and tourism, then in about 30 years more than half of the corals will disappear from our Earth.

The Belize Barrier Reef Protected Area has approximately 70 species of hard corals and at least 35 soft corals. Nearly 500 species of fish are found in this area. There are also representatives of endangered species of animals, among which there is more than one species of turtles.

Among all the dangers to the corals of the Belize Reef, their bleaching is at a very high level. This is a natural procedure in which they discolor and become light. In 1997, the largest coral bleaching occurred here, which coincided with squally winds. At this time, their reduction was recorded by about 45 percent. Scientists have determined that the increased temperature of the environment in which they live, as well as ultraviolet radiation, has a negative impact on marine coral reefs.

The local colorful places have long been chosen by tourists. This is favorably influenced by the temperature of the water, as well as the richness of the underwater world.

One of the most beautiful places to dive into the water kingdom is the area that became famous thanks to the Blue Hole. Its location is the natural reef Lighthouse, which is located a hundred kilometers from the coastline of Belize. It was discovered by an underwater expedition in 1970 and has been attracting many tourists ever since. The blue hole looks like a funnel made of limestone, which is filled with dark blue water. Its diameter is close to 300 meters, and the depth is at least 120. The inhabitants of the Blue Hole are sharks. Diving in this area for divers without much experience is not recommended as decompression may occur. The sea water near the funnel itself is very clear and is ideal for snorkelling.

As you can see, the Belize Barrier Reef is a real treasure of nature, which requires careful treatment on the part of mankind.

Belize Barrier Reef - a series of coral reefs 280 km long, located along the coast of Belize at a distance of 13 - 24 km from it.

It is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, stretching for 900 km from the northern tip of Yucatan to the coast of Guatemala. This reef system is the largest barrier reef in the Atlantic Ocean and the second largest in the world after Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

The reef consists of approximately 450 shoals, or islets, and three coral atolls - ring-shaped reefs with picturesque lagoons. There are 70 species of hard and 36 species of soft corals and 500 species of fish in the protected area of ​​the Belize Barrier Reef. Rare and endangered species of animals live in the waters of the reef, such as the loggerhead and green sea turtles, the hawksbill turtle, as well as the manatee and the sharp-snouted crocodile.

The clear waters of the Belize Reef, with an average temperature of 26 degrees, are the best place for diving enthusiasts. The easiest way to get to the reef is from the town of San Pedro, on the island of Ambergris. The city is only a few hundred meters from the reef. And six kilometers southeast of San Pedro is the Hol Chen Nature Reserve, an eight-square-kilometer underwater park that has a passage through a reef.

One of the most beautiful places for underwater walks is the Blue Hole, located on Lighthouse Reef, about 100 kilometers from the coast of Belize. It was discovered by the French oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau during an expedition to the Calypso in 1970. Set in the middle of a turquoise sea, the Blue Hole is a limestone sinkhole with deep blue water, lined with live coral. From here, a stunning panorama opens - in this place the visibility is 60 meters. In addition to sharks, there is almost no living creatures in the Blue Hole. Experienced scuba divers dive in this place, but for beginners, the crystal clear waters at the edge of the Blue Hole offer a lot of interesting things.

Nearby is the quiet islet of Half Moon Key, home to the rare red-footed booby. About 98 other bird species also live here. Half Moon Key extends 1,000 meters deep and is covered with magnificent soft corals. These underwater landscapes leave no one indifferent. According to scientists, 90 percent of the reef has not yet been explored.

The coastal ecosystems of Belize have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1996 as one of the richest ecosystems in the world. The Belize Barrier Reef reserves include seven marine reserves, 450 reefs and three atolls. The total area of ​​protected areas reaches 960 km².

  • The address: Belize City, Belize;
  • Length: 280 km;
  • Attractions: Glovers Reef, Great Blue Hole, Sapodilla Caye, Half Moon Cay, Hol Chan.


Why is it worth visiting?

More than 140 thousand tourists come to Belize every year. Someone for a rich exotic vacation, but there are those who want to become famous by making a real scientific discovery. After all, only 10% of the natural wealth of the Belize Barrier Reef has been studied today.

The reef ecosystem is incredibly rich and diverse. Here you can see:

  • more than 100 types of corals (70 hard and 36 soft);
  • manatees;
  • turtles (including endangered species: hawksbill, bigheads and green sea turtles);
  • sharp-winged crocodiles;
  • about 500 species of fish;
  • sharks (nannies, Caribbean).

If you are going to visit the Belize Barrier Reef, you will be welcomed. Hotels and diving centers are located on the coast and islands. Hotels cannot be attributed to the “Luxury” class, all of them can be compared with three-star European hotels, but believe me, you will have no time to spend time in your room.

When is the best time to come?

Any time of the year is suitable for a trip to the Belize Barrier Reef. In winter, the water temperature does not drop below +23°C, and in summer it reaches +28°C.

Interesting Facts

  • - a rather unsafe place for swimming (during high tide, it turns into a funnel with a whirlpool, and with the onset of low tide, it begins to gush, throwing everything out);
  • the first to explore the Great Blue Hole was Jacques-Yves Cousteau;
  • at the resorts of the Belize Reef, an unusual gambling entertainment is popular - “chicken loto” (chickens are released onto a fenced field lined with even squares, and players make bets - they choose the square on which the chickens will leave the most of their waste products; before receiving the prize, the winner must remove what brought him luck).

How to get there?

If your main purpose of visiting Belize is the reef, then when choosing a flight, it is better to choose Philip S. W. Goldson Airport as your destination. It is located 15 km from the port city, from where it is most convenient to get to the islands by sea. There you can order a one-way sea transfer if you intend to stay in island hotels, or take advantage of one-day tours (you will be taken to any resort on the reef and brought to the mainland in the evening).