Turneffe Atoll

Douglas Key (West)
Nautical map of Turneffe Islands

Turneffe Atoll is a group of small Caribbean islands southeast of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, off the coast of Belize in Central America, 20 miles (32 kilometres) from Belize City. It is approximately 30 miles (48 kilometres) long and 10 miles (16 kilometres) wide, making it the largest coral atoll in Belize and in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.[1] The atoll was officially declared a marine reserve on November 22, 2012.[2]

Turneffe is home to many marine species that are threatened and/or commercially important. The land and seascape consists of a network of highly productive flats, creeks, and lagoons dotted by more than 150 mangrove islands and higher cayes with savanna and littoral forest. Large expanses of intact mangrove and seagrass habitat and shallows provide important nursery functionality for a wide array of fish species, crocodiles, lobster, conch and other invertebrates. It is home to more than 500 species of fish, 65 species of stony corals, sea turtles, manatees, dolphins, seabirds, and other wildlife.[3] In addition, at least three known important fish spawning aggregation sites have been identified.[4]

At the northern end of the island group is Mauger Caye, with its eponymous lighthouse, the southern end has a smaller aid to navigation on Caye Bokel.

History

The infamous pirate Blackbeard, aka Edward Teach, spent the winter of 1717-1718 harassing shipping sailing to and from the port of Vera Cruz, Mexico and traversing the Bay of Honduras.[5] In April of 1718, at Turneffe, Blackbeard captured the logwood cutting sloop Adventure and forced its captain, David Herriot, to join him. Blackbeard then made Israel Hands captain of the Adventure and began sailing for North Carolina.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve Management Plan" (PDF). Belize Fisheries Department. 2011. p. 6. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  2. ↑ "Turneff Atolls Declared National Park". Amandala Newspaper. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 2 Jun 2014.
  3. ↑ "Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve". Oceanicsociety.org. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  4. ↑ "Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve Management Plan" (PDF). Belize Fisheries Department. 2011. p. 6. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  5. ↑ Woodard, Colin. "A Blackbeard mystery solved". Republic of Pirates Blog. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  6. ↑ Byrd Downey, Cristopher (22 May 2012). Stede Bonnet: Charleston's Gentleman Pirate. The History Press. p. 44. ISBN 1609495403. Retrieved 25 March 2016.

External links

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Coordinates: 17°20′N 87°52′W / 17.333°N 87.867°W / 17.333; -87.867

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