| |
Belize River Front Real Estate and Investment Properties
W
E
L
C
O
M
E
-
T
O
B
A
N
A
N
A
-
B
A
N
K
-
H
E
I
G
H
T
S
Mexico Rocks
The site was recommended for designation by the FAO (1978), and is considered as a gap in the current protected area network.
No precise boundaries have been defined for the site.
The site is a unique patch reef system within the Northern Shelf Lagoon, and
is also important for fishery resources. It is also being proposed partly
to take pressure off Hol Chan Marine Reserve, and finally its protection
has been requested by tourist guides who see it as an important addition
to Ambergris Caye's ecotourism attractions.
The site contains mixed algal and seagrass beds characteristic of the back
reef interspersed with sandy areas and coral patch reefs of various sizes.
The Montastrea annularis dominated patch reef system is unique in the
Northern Shelf Lagoon. The dominance of this large boulder, coral in patch
reefs is rare in Belize, with only one other location of such patch reefs
known, at Glovers Reef. 30 hard coral species have been identified.
There are scattered holiday/retirement homes and
resorts along the shore adjacent to the site. San Pedro (tourism and
fishing) holds the great majority of the caye's population, and is roughly
4.5 miles to the south.
The average water depth is approximately 3
yards. A small cave (depth 26 yards) is reported in the site. The
sediments in the area consist of unconsolidated poorly sorted gravely
carbonate sands. The dominant components are derived from Halimeda spp.
and coral fragments, while other fragments are derived from foraminifera,
sponge spicules, mollusc and echinoderm fragments, among others.
|
 |
Web site and all contents © Copyright Graham Heyes 2006 - 2007,
All rights reserved.
 | | |
