Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • Australia
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. Australia
  3. 2022
  4. September 09
  5. Forested reef, Blue Hole National Monument, Belize
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Forested reef, Blue Hole National Monument, Belize

September 09, 2022

Forested reef, Blue Hole National Monument, Belize

© Tom Till/Alam

Belize Barrier Reef

One of the greatest marvels of the marine world, the 300-kilometre-long Belize Barrier Reef is located along the Central American country's Caribbean coast. It's part of the larger Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System that runs from Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula to Honduras and is the second-largest reef in the world behind the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996, it's remained relatively healthy even as many of the planet's reefs are threatened by climate change.

Featured here is a mangrove forest on Lighthouse Reef, one of three major atolls (above-water sections of reef that form ringlike, often lush island chains) in the reef system. It's the most visited of the atolls for one reason: Near its centre is the Great Blue Hole, a marine sinkhole that's 318 metres across, 124 metres deep and a bucket-list destination for scuba divers. Now protected within the Blue Hole Natural Monument, the hole was made famous when oceanographer Jacques Cousteau charted its depths in 1971.

The barrier reef is Belize's most popular tourist attraction, a destination for diving and fishing as well as sightseeing. One of the most biodiverse places in the world, the system includes more than 400 cays or islands, mangrove forests, coastal lagoons and estuaries, and is the only place in the Western Hemisphere where you’ll find coral atolls.

sky beach grass outdoor cloud water nature landscape lake ocean blue reef clouds

Related Images

Ballyvooney Cove, Copper Coast Geopark, IrelandBallyvooney Cove, Copper Coast Geopark, Ireland
Agüero, SpainAgüero, Spain
Sheep in South Downs National Park, East Sussex, EnglandSheep in South Downs National Park, East Sussex, England
Road to Mount Pico, PortugalRoad to Mount Pico, Portugal
Hippopotamus mother and baby, Chobe National Park, BotswanaHippopotamus mother and baby, Chobe National Park, Botswana
Alpine marmotsAlpine marmots
Burchell's zebrasBurchell's zebras
Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross, ScotlandAberfeldy, Perth and Kinross, Scotland

Today on Bing

San Juan Islands, Washington state, USA

San Juan Islands, Washington state, USA

Sep 09, 2021
A bearded reedling in Elmley National Nature Reserve in Kent, England

A bearded reedling in Elmley National Nature Reserve in Kent, England

Sep 09, 2020
Central Coast vineyards in Arroyo Grande, California

Central Coast vineyards in Arroyo Grande, California

Sep 09, 2019
Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum. The Toronto International Film Festival is happening now.

Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum. The Toronto International Film Festival is happening now.

Sep 09, 2018
Marine iguanas in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Marine iguanas in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Sep 09, 2017

Related Tags

grass outdoor nature landscape sky mountain animal mammal green hillside field grassy lush plant terrestrial animal clouds land cloud wildlife water
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
Download 5107x2873
  • © 2023 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.