![]() The protected status of the reef system also helped preserve the Maya culture and way of life. This prevented them from continuing their traditional fishing and hunting practices. Mayans managed to hold on to their traditional ways for a few more decades, but then the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System was declared a protected area in 1961. By 1901, the Maya were numbered at only about 2,000 people, down from over 60,000 in 1880. They also brought diseases like yellow fever and malaria which ravaged the local Maya population. ![]() Early British settlers cleared large areas of forest for timber and farming. In 1847, Britain declared Belize a Crown colony and began to actively colonize the area. They founded the town of Belize City on the banks of Belize River. The first Europeans to settle in Belize were English loggers and buccaneers who arrived in the 16th century. Mopan was a set of smaller, more peaceful people who lived in the jungle-covered hills around the reef system. They were skilled builders and left behind many impressive structures, including the pyramid at Chichén Itzá. Maya had a complex society that reached its peak around 800 AD. The area around the reef system was also home to various Amerindian cultures, including the Maya and Mopan. In subsequent years, English buccaneers and corsairs used these reefs to ambush Spanish galleons laden with treasure. Spanish conquistadors sailed along the reef system in 1519 and noted its potential for piracy as well as its strategic location for the defense of Yucatan Peninsula. At that time, he named it the Isla de Carmen. The reef has been attracting people from around the world for thousands of years with its resources and natural beauty.īelize Barrier Reef Reserve System was first discovered by Christopher Columbus on his fourth voyage to the New World in 1502. The history of Belize Barrier Reef is quite interesting. Let’s see some fewer known facts about this popular reef, and its flora and fauna. It has been described as the 'most remarkable reef in the West Indies' by Charles Darwin in 1842. It is a great place of tourist attraction and is quite popular for snorkeling and scuba diving. Marine reserve areas help keep these delicate ecosystems healthy and vibrant, and they also provide a safe haven for many threatened species and significant habitat for marine species. Glovers Reef is the largest and most well-known reef in the system, and it is teeming with colorful coral, tropical fish, and sharks. The series of coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea that are found on the long coast of Belize is known as Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, which is a World Heritage Site.īelize Barrier Reef Reserve System is home to an incredible diversity of marine life, including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, and marine turtles. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. ![]() We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents. At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world.
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