Page 78 - Mexico Diving From the Caribbean to Pacific Isles

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, also popularly known
as the Great Mayan Reef or Great Maya Reef, is a marine re-
gion that stretches over 1000 km from Isla Contoy at the tip
of the Yucatán Peninsula down to Belize, Guatemala and the
Bay Islands of Honduras.

T he Mesoamerican Barrier Guatemala, and Honduras. It lusk and more than 500 species
Reef System, also popularly begins near Isla Contoy on the of fish. There are numerous
known as the Great Mayan Reef northern tip of the Yucatán species that live in or around
or Great Maya Reef, is a marine Peninsula and continues south the reef system that are endan-
region that stretches over 1000 alongside the Riviera Maya gered or under some degree of
km from Isla Contoy at the including Cozumel and Banco protection, including the Green
tip of the Yucatán Peninsula Chinchorro. It then continues turtle, Loggerhead Sea Turtle,
down to Belize, Guatemala south down the eastern coast and the Hawksbill turtle, the
and the Bay Islands of Hondu- of Belize including many cayes Queen Conch, the West Indian
ras. The reef system includes and atolls. It extends past the Manatee, the Splendid toadfish,
various protected areas and north-east corner of Guatemala the American crocodile, the
parks including the Arrecifes and ends near the Bay Islands of Nassau grouper, Elkhorn coral,
de Cozumel National Park. Honduras. and black coral. The reef system
It stretches along the entire is home to one of the world’s
coast of Quintana Roo. The reef The reef system is home to largest populations of mana-
system extends along the coast more than 65 species of tees, with an estimated 1,000 to
of four countries: Mexico, Belize, stony coral, 350 species of mol- 1,500 of them.