Sea Sports Belize - Barrier Reef System

INTRODUCTION
Seven marine protected areas make up
the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve World
Heritage Site as was designated by United
Nations and UNESCO in 1992.The Belize
Barrier Reef Reserve System is essentially
comprised of a 175 mile long Barrier Reef,
numerous patch reefs, and 3 offshore
atolls along with its associated coral reefs,
seagrass beds, mangroves and marine life
that live within these important yet fragile
ecosystems. The Belize Barrier Reef
Reserve System is part of the
Mesoamerican Reef System, known as
MAR, which also includes the reefs in the
neighboring countries of Mexico,
Guatemala and Honduras.

GEOLOGY
About 10,000 years ago sea level was
about 500 feet lower and the atolls and
the continental shelf on which the Belize
Barrier Reef has grown was dry land. The
Great Blue Hole which lies within
Lighthouse Atoll was formed as a dry cave
whose ceiling collapsed at this time. The
English Caye Channel that provides
passage to large vessels calling on Belize
City was an ancient river bed, as is seen in
the Google Earth image to the right.

Belize Barrier Reef Reserve Ecosystem...