Belize Barrier Reef
By Erin Foley
Location
Goes from Cancun on the northeast tip of the Yucatan Peninsula through the Riviera Maya up to Honduras.
Activities
Nearly 260,000 tourists every year visit the Belize barrier reef to go snorkeling and scuba diving.
Passport Requirements
To obtain a Belize passport, you are required to have a birth certificate, prove that you are a Belize citizen, fill out a passport application, and then have your picture taken.
Health Issues
The reef is under threat from oceanic pollution as well as uncontrolled tourism, shipping, and fishing. The main threats are considered to be hurricanes along with global warming and the resulting increase in ocean temperatures, which cause coral bleaching.
Species of the Belize Barrier Reef
The Belize Barrier reef is home to 70 hard coral species, 36 soft coral species, 500 species of fish, and hundreds of invertebrate species.