Dahl Web Site
ISLAND DIRECTORY
Islands of Belize
Ambergris Cay [1988]
Group:
Country: Belize Region: Caribbean Sea
Lat: 18.04º N Long : 87.88º W
Area: 0.0 sq. km Altitude: ? m
Depth to nearest land: <200 m
Nearest island: 1 km group: 1 km
Nearest continent: North America Distance: 1 km Isolation Index: 3
ISLAND TYPE: low coral Natural Protection Indicator: 0
GEOLOGY/SOILS:
Spit formation with Pleistocene limestone core, a plateau to the north,
sand
ridges, a rubble beach ridge, and lagoons
CLIMATE: wet tropical 1270mm, means 21-34øC
CATASTROPHIC THREATS: cyclones
Threat Indicator: 1
ECOSYSTEMS:
Barrier reef, mangrove swamps, lagoons with patch reefs Coral reefs, Mangroves
SPECIES OF CONSERVATION INTEREST:
SPECIAL FEATURES : Special Features Indicator - Terrestrial: 2 Marine: 0
seabirds breeding, turtle nesting area
HUMAN OCCUPATION: Inhabited, town of San Pedro
Population: 0 Density: 0.0 persons/sq. km
Major Human Activities: tourism, fishing
HUMAN IMPACTS:
Major tourist resort with 20 hotels, recreational fishing and diving;
spiny
lobsters overfished by 1950s, heavy conch fishing; turtle nesting
becoming
rare
Habitat: tourist resort Urban Pop: 0 Urban Indicator: 0
Accessibility: airport
Percent population in agr/mining/fishing: 30% Human Threat Indicator: 1
Gross Domestic Product: $ 938 per capita Economic Pressure Indicator: 0
Conservation support: government support, legislation
PROTECTED AREAS: Protected Area Coverage Indicators - Terrestrial: 0 Marine: 0
Number: 1 Area: Terrestrial: 0.0 sq. km Marine: 0 sq. km
DATA RELIABILITY: Data Rel. Indicator: 2
HUMAN IMPACT INDEX HI: 1
CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE INDEX CI-Terrestrial: 3 Low
CI-Marine: 1 Low
REFERENCES:
Last updated: 05/08/90
Glover Reef (Glover Reef) [1986]
Group:
Country: Belize Region: Caribbean Sea
Lat: 16.80º N Long : 87.77º W
Area: 0.0 sq. km Altitude: 2 m
Submerged area <100 m: 0 sq. km Reef area: 0 sq. km Lagoon area: 130 sq. km
Depth to nearest land: <200 m
Nearest island: 25 km group: 30 km
Nearest continent: North America Distance: 45 km Isolation Index: 17
ISLAND TYPE: atoll Natural Protection Indicator: 0
GEOLOGY/SOILS:
Atoll 25.6 by 10.4 km with 6 cays (islets) on 10 km of south-east rim, 3
passes into large lagoon 27-43 m deep with many patch reefs
CLIMATE: wet tropical water 25-31øC
CATASTROPHIC THREATS: cyclones (1971, 1978)
Threat Indicator: 1
ECOSYSTEMS: Number of Ecosystems - Terrestrial: 1 Marine: 4
Tall broadleaf littoral woodland on south-east part of North-east Cay,
coconuts elsewhere; windward and leeward atoll reefs, lagoon with patch
reefs,
good reef development
Forest
Percent shoreline: Coral Reef: 99% Mangrove: 0%
SPECIES OF CONSERVATION INTEREST:
Birds:
Anous stolidus (Brown Noddy) nesting on South-west Cay
Mammals:
Trichechus manatus (Caribbean Manatee) present
Species Richness Indicator - Terrestrial: 1 Marine: 3
SPECIAL FEATURES : Special Features Indicator - Terrestrial: 2 Marine: 2
brown noddy rookery, turtle nesting area, manatee present
one of the best examples of an atoll in the Caribbean
HUMAN OCCUPATION: Inhabited, Long Cay and Little Cay inhabited
Population: 0 Density: 0.0 persons/sq. km
Major Human Activities: tourism, fishing
HUMAN IMPACTS:
Reef and lagoon relatively undisturbed; most land cleared for coconuts;
diving
resorts on Little Cay, Long Cay and North-east Cay
Habitat: small diving resorts Urban Pop: 0 Urban Indicator: 0
Percent population in agr/mining/fishing: 30% Human Threat Indicator: 1
Gross Domestic Product: $ 938 per capita Economic Pressure Indicator: 0
Conservation support: government support
DATA RELIABILITY: good but dated Data Rel. Indicator: 2
HUMAN IMPACT INDEX HI: 1
CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE INDEX CI-Terrestrial: 6 Moderate
CI-Marine: 12 Moderate
REFERENCES:
Last updated: 05/08/90
Lighthouse Reef [1985]
Group:
Country: Belize Region: Caribbean Sea
Lat: 17.30º N Long : 87.50º W
Area: 0.0 sq. km Altitude: ? m
Submerged area <100 m: 0 sq. km Reef area: 0 sq. km Lagoon area: 120 sq. km
Depth to nearest land: 200 m
Nearest island: 25 km group: 30 km
Nearest continent: North America Distance: 70 km Isolation Index: 19
ISLAND TYPE: atoll Natural Protection Indicator: 0
GEOLOGY/SOILS:
Irregular atoll 35 by 8 km (126 sq. km) with wide rim and 3 passes into
lagoon
2-6 m deep; 6 cays (islets) including Northern Cay (5.8 sq.km), Long Cay
and
Half Moon Cay
CLIMATE: wet tropical
CATASTROPHIC THREATS: cyclones (1961, 1978)
Threat Indicator: 1
ECOSYSTEMS:
Rare surviving example of atoll forest of Siricote (Cordia sebestena) on
western half of Half Moon Cay with important seabird rookery; natural
vegetation on Sandbore Cay; coconuts elsewhere; very wide windward atoll
reef
(450 m) with reef flat 1-1.4 km wide, leeward atoll reef with sand
accumulations, shallow lagoon with some patch reefs Forest
Percent shoreline: Coral Reef: 99% Mangrove: 0%
SPECIES OF CONSERVATION INTEREST:
Reptiles:
3 lizards
crocodile may occur
Birds:
Sula sula (Red-footed Booby) nesting colony of 4000 on Half Moon Cay
Fregata magnificens (Magnificent Frigatebird) nesting on Half Moon Cay
Columba leucocephala (White-crowned Pigeons) formerly nested on Long
Cay
SPECIAL FEATURES : Special Features Indicator - Terrestrial: 2 Marine: 2
seabird rookery, turtle nesting area, manatees may be present
Blue Hole, submerged sinkhole in lagoon floor with Pleistocene stalactites
INVASIVE SPECIES: Invasive Species Indicator: 2
rats
HUMAN OCCUPATION: Inhabited, lighthouse keepers only
Population: 0 Density: 0.0 persons/sq. km
Major Human Activities: fishing, tourism
HUMAN IMPACTS:
Some uncontrolled fishing and shell collecting; pigeon colony may have
been
wiped out by overhunting
Percent population in agr/mining/fishing: 30% Human Threat Indicator: 1
Gross Domestic Product: $ 938 per capita Economic Pressure Indicator: 0
Conservation support: government support, legislation
PROTECTED AREAS: Protected Area Coverage Indicators - Terrestrial: 0 Marine: 0
Number: 1 Area: Terrestrial: 0.0 sq. km Marine: 0 sq. km
Half Moon Cay Natural Monument (1982, bird sanctuary since 1928) 4144 ha
with
6.4 km radius where fishing is prohibited
DATA RELIABILITY: Data Rel. Indicator: 1
HUMAN IMPACT INDEX HI: 3
CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE INDEX CI-Terrestrial: 4 Low
CI-Marine: 3 Low
REFERENCES:
Last updated: 05/08/90
Turneffe [1987]
Group:
Country: Belize Region: Caribbean Sea
Lat: 17.42º N Long : 87.84º W
Area: 0.0 sq. km Altitude: ? m
Depth to nearest land: <200 m
Nearest island: 17 km group: 30 km
Nearest continent: North America Distance: 30 km Isolation Index: 15
ISLAND TYPE: atoll Natural Protection Indicator: 0
GEOLOGY/SOILS:
Lens-shaped atoll 49 by 9 km with mangrove and sand cays, narrow
windward reef
and southern lagoon 27 km long and 2-4 m deep
CLIMATE: wet tropical
CATASTROPHIC THREATS: cyclones (1961, 1978)
Threat Indicator: 1
ECOSYSTEMS: Number of Ecosystems - Terrestrial: 2 Marine: 4
Coconuts; narrow windward and wider diffuse leeward atoll reefs, sand
cays
with mangroves bordering lagoon, lagoon with extensive seagrass beds and
sponge beds Mangroves
Percent shoreline: Coral Reef: 99% Mangrove: -9%
| SPECIES NUMBERS: |
Total |
Endemic |
Threatened (EVRI) |
| Plants |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Butterflies |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Land snails |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Rept/Amphib |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Land birds |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Mammals |
0 |
0 |
1 |
SPECIES OF CONSERVATION INTEREST:
Reptiles/Amphibians:
land lizards and snakes
Crocodylus acutus (American Crocodile) Endangered
Mammals:
Trichechus manatus (Caribbean Manatee) in lagoons
Species Richness Indicator - Terrestrial: 1 Marine: 3
SPECIAL FEATURES : Special Features Indicator - Terrestrial: 0 Marine: 2
manatee in lagoons
spawning aggragations of fish
INVASIVE SPECIES: Invasive Species Indicator: 3
rats, domestic animals
HUMAN OCCUPATION: Inhabited, several cays inhabited
Population: 0 Density: 0.0 persons/sq. km
Major Human Activities: coconuts, fishing,, tourism
HUMAN IMPACTS:
Major coconut plantations; overfishing of sponges in late 19th and early
20th
centuries; overfishing of conch; fishing resort
Percent population in agr/mining/fishing: 30% Human Threat Indicator: 1
Gross Domestic Product: $ 938 per capita Economic Pressure Indicator: 0
Conservation support: government support
DATA RELIABILITY: Data Rel. Indicator: 2
HUMAN IMPACT INDEX HI: 4
CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE INDEX CI-Terrestrial: 3 Low
CI-Marine: 12 Moderate
REFERENCES:
Last updated: 05/08/90
Return to Island Directory Home Page
NOTE: For an explanation of each field, click on the colon (:)
Page last updated: 09/05/10