Islands of Belize
Encyclopedia
The country of Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
has roughly 386 km of coastline, and has many coral reefs, cay
Cay
A cay , also spelled caye or key, is a small, low-elevation, sandy island formed on the surface of coral reefs. Cays occur in tropical environments throughout the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans , where they provide habitable and agricultural land for hundreds of thousands of people...
s, and islands in the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
. Most of these form the Belize Barrier Reef
Belize Barrier Reef
The Belize Barrier Reef is a series of coral reefs straddling the coast of Belize, roughly offshore in the north and in the south within the country limits...
, the longest in the western hemisphere stemming approximately 322 km (200.1 mi). The reef and its islands have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
since 1996.
The following is a list of oceanic islands of Belize, arranged according to region but all of which are in the Caribbean Sea. Most of the islands variate in spelling between "cay" and "caye", and also use the Spanish "cayo". River island
River Island
River Island is one of Britain's best known high street fashion brands and can be found in most cities across the UK. The brand also has stores in Singapore, Turkey, Poland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the Middle East.-History:...
s have not been listed.
Ambergris group
Ambergris Caye
Ambergris Caye, pronounced "am-BER-gris", is the largest island of Belize located northeast of the country in the Caribbean Sea. Though administered as part of the Belize District, the closest point on the mainland is part of the Corozal District....
, in the far northeast, is the largest island in the country. To the northwest of Ambergris are:
- Blackadore CayeBlackadore CayeBlackadore Caye is a small island in Belize, west of Ambergris Caye , in the Atlantic Ocean, not far from the Belize Barrier ReefIt has been bought by American actor Leonardo DiCaprio where he intends to build a hotel and a private airport. DiCaprio had originally discovered the island on a...
(Cayo Negro) - Deer Cay
- Cayo Frances
- Cayo Iguana
- Cayo Tostado (Swab Cay)
To the southwest:
- Cayo Rosario (Guana Cay)
- Mosquito Cay
- Savannah Cay
- Cayo EspantoCayo EspantoCayo Espanto is a private island located off the coast of Belize. Since Cayo Espanto opened in 1998, the private islandretreat has graced more magazine covers than any other private island...
To the south:
- Cangrejo Caye
- Cayo Romero
Central group
This group of islands form an arch around the capital city'sBelize City
Belize City is the largest city in the Central American nation of Belize. Unofficial estimates place the population of Belize City at 70,000 or more. It is located at the mouth of the Belize River on the coast of the Caribbean. The city is the country's principal port and its financial and...
coastline.
To the northeast are:
- Caye ChapelCaye ChapelCaye Chapel is a small island in Belize, north-northeast of Belize City and south of Caye Caulker.In comparison to other typically rural cayes and islands in the vicinity, it is an exclusive area, featuring among others an 18 hole golf course, clubhouse and conference facilities.There is...
- Caye CaulkerCaye CaulkerCaye Caulker is a small limestone coral island off the coast of Belize in the Caribbean Sea measuring about by less than . The town on the island is known by the name Caye Caulker Village...
(also spelled Corker) - Frenchman's Cay
- Hick's CayesHick's CayesHick's Cayes are a group of uninhabited Islands in the South of Chetumal Bay, between St. George's Caye and Caye Chapel, about halfway between Belize City and San Pedro Town....
- Long Cay, not to be confused with the other island further southeast
- Montego Cay
- Saint George's Caye, the sight of an historic colonial battle
Directly off the coast are:
- Hen Cay and Chicken Cay
- Coffee Cay
- Moho Cay
- North Drowned Cay
- Rider Cays
- Stake Bank
- Swallow Cay
- Goff's CayeGoff's CayeGoff's Caye is a small island off the shore of Belize City, Belize. It is situated north of the English Channel and is of sandy land. It sits right on the edge of the Belize Barrier Reef with waters to the south and east being only 0.6 to 3 metres deep. Goff's Caye is registered as an...
To the southeast are:
- Drowned Cays
- Gallows Point Reef
- Paunch Cay
- Robinson Point Cay
- Sergeants Cay
- Spanish Lookout Cays
Southern group
Gradually heading in a line southward, the cays decrease in size before reaching the coast of HondurasHonduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
. The following are arranged from north to south.
- English Caye
- Middle Long Caye
- Redezvous Caye (northern)
- Southern Long Caye
- Tobacco CayeTobacco CayeTobacco Caye is a tiny island in Belize, about 10 miles east of Dangriga. It has a permanent population of about 20, and sees a regular stream of travelers. The island was ravaged by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, but has since been rebuilt....
- Bird IslandBird Island, BelizeBird Island is an island located in the country of Belize.Located near Tobacco Caye, Belize, this island is home to frigatebirds and brown footed boobies. This island is protected, and tourists are not allowed to dock and set foot on the island premises. In 2001, a hurricane totaled the mangrove...
- South Water Caye
- Carrie Bow Caye
- Gladden Caye
- Rendezvous Caye (southern)
- Bugle Caye
- Laughing Bird CayeLaughing Bird CayeLaughing Bird Caye is an island off the coast of Placencia, Belize. On 21 December 1991, Laughing Bird Caye National Park was declared. It is spread in an area of . The national park is named after Laughingbird gull which breeds there.-References:...
- Ranguana Caye
- Sapodilla Cay
- Hunting Cayes
Further towards the coast of Punta Gorda
Punta Gorda
Punta Gorda may refer to:*Punta Gorda, Belize*Punta Gorda, Florida*Punta Gorda Light, Humboldt County, California, USA*Punta Gorda, Montevideo, in Uruguay....
are:
- Snake Cayes
- Moho Caye
- Wild Cane Cay
Turneffe islands
The Turneffe Atoll is situated in the central Barrier Reef system, between the Inner Channel and Lighthouse Reef. It is made up of a number of large cays, such as Blackbird Caye, which surround a central lagoon. Smaller surrounding islands include:- Caye Bokel
- Crawl Caye
- Maugher Caye
- Three Corner Caye
- Baby Roach Cay
Lighthouse Reef
- Half Moon CayeHalf Moon CayeHalf Moon Caye is an island and natural monument in Belize....
- Long CayeLong CayeLong Caye is an island 40 miles off the coast of Belize. The Caye is only 8 miles away from the Great Blue Hole and is located in the same atoll Lighthouse Reef.- External links :*...
- Northern CayeNorthern CayeNorthern Caye is a small island 50 miles off the coast of Belize. The former Lighthouse Reef Resort catered to scuba diving enthusiasts. The caye is noted for its saltwater crocodiles and snowy egrets....
- Sandbore CayeSandbore CayeSandbore Caye is a very small island 50 miles off the coast of Belize. It has a lighthouse occupied by a keeper and his family. Nearby is the larger island, Northern Caye....
Glover's Reef
The Glover's ReefGlover's Reef
Glover's Reef is a partially submerged atoll located off the southern coast of Belize, approximately 45 kilometres from the mainland. It forms part of the outermost boundary of the Belize Barrier Reef.-Topography:...
system is mostly submerged, with a few tiny islands: Amounme Point Cay, Northeast Cay, Long Cay, Middle Cay and Southwest Cay.
Other islands
- Last Chance Cay, in Midwinter's Lagoon
- Marlowe Cay, in Midwinter's Lagoon
- Shipstern Cay, in Chetumal Bay
See also
- List of islands
- List of rivers in Belize
External links
- Islands of Belize, United Nations Environment Programme
- WorldIslandInfo.com