07. Belize’s Barrier Reef, West Indies
The Belize Barrier Reef is one of the most significant and well-preserved coral reef systems in the world. It is located in the western part of the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Belize in Central America, not in the West Indies. The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System encompasses the reef itself as well as several atolls, cays, and coastal lagoons, making it a diverse and ecologically important area.
The Belize Barrier Reef stretches for approximately 190 miles (300 kilometers) along the coast of Belize, making it the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. It is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which is the second-largest coral reef system in the world, after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.