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Glover's Reef Atoll, Belize
Slickrock owns an island at Glover's
Reef, called Long Caye. Our private island, is located on the outer
reef of Glover's Reef Atoll. Glover's Reef is one of only four atolls
found in our hemisphere, which alone makes it an unusual and special
place to explore.
On the left one can see the three atolls of Belize, as well as the Belize Barrier Reef. The mainland is the large green mass in the satellite image, the Barrier Reef is the light- colored line that parallels the coastline. Beyond the Barrier Reef lie the three atolls of Belize (clockwise from the top left atoll) Turneffe Islands, Lighthouse Reef, and, the most remote of all, Glover's Reef.
An atoll is a ring of coral that originally
grew completely around the shoreline of an island, and which continued
to grow upward on top of itself as the island subsided or eroded away.
The ring reef we see today at Glover's Reef outlines the shoreline of an
ancient island that once existed at this location. This island was
exactly the size and
shape of present day Glover's Reef Atoll, today an oval
ring of coral 54 miles in circumference surrounded by the Caribbean Sea.
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One can observe the various stages of this geologic process on islands and atolls found in the Pacific. The Hawaiian Islands can be considered relatively "young" islands, with coral reefs growing around their perimeters very close to the shoreline. A "mid-stage" atoll would be represented by Tahiti, with a central island surrounded by a ring reef several miles offshore, sheltering a large shallow lagoon between the reef and the island. Examples of "mature" atolls can be seen among many island groups in the Pacific such as Bora Bora where slender circles of coral surround huge lagoons full of coral formations but with few, if any, central islands remaining. Small islands of sand and rubble, such as those found at Glover's Reef, are commonly situated on the edges of these atolls. |
 The islands of Glover's Reef, bottom to top: Northeast Caye, Long Caye, Middle Caye, Southwest Caye |
Within this necklace of coral, you'll
find more than 700 pristine patch reefs brimming with the richest
variety of marine life in the Caribbean - from the delicate fan coral
and spiny urchin to the colorful stoplight parrot fish and elegant
southern sting ray. Snorkelers and divers alike are enchanted by the
spectrum of sea life here, whether they're wading just off shore or
exploring the depths along "The Wall", a world-class dive site
off the back of Long Caye.
This spectacular dive site exemplifies the pristine nature of
diving at Glover's Reef.
For a map of our private island visit
our
Long Caye at Glovers Reef page.
In recognition of the outstanding natural quality of Glover's ecosystem,
it has been designated a National Marine Reserve and in 1997 was named a
World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
New York Aquarium Glover's Reef exhibit
Have questions about our island or about Belize?
Don't hesitate to give us a call: (800) 390-5715, or send us an email: slickrock@slickrock.com. We've been working in Belize for 21 years now and should be able to answer any question that you have.
Ready to learn more? Request our brochure