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Great Belize Blue Hole
The Great Blue Hole is located about 100 km off the coast of Belize in Central America. A world heritage site of UNESCO, the Great Blue Hole is part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System. The hole forms a perfect circle in the midst of a coral reef, also known as the Lighthouse Reef. It is round in shape with a distinct colour, measuring 300m in length and 108m in depth. Researchers say the Great Blue Hole is the largest of its kind and discovered huge stalactites, dripstone sheets, as well as columns inside the blue hole.
The Great Blue Hole, which was once an island, is a result of various geological factors. Nearly 14000 years ago, during the ice age, the sea level was much lower. Limestone rocks were found below the island, which dissolved in rain and groundwater. Over a period of time, this process formed hollow places or caves below the earth’s surface. After some time, the roof of the cave became so thin that it crumpled, creating a vast sinkhole. When the ice age ended, glaciers melted, and sea levels rose. As a result, the entire cave system beneath flooded.
Belize Blue Hole Map
The Belize Blue Hole, situated within the Lighthouse Reef, is located approximately 70 km off the coast of Belize. Its unique, layered interior and geological features were precisely mapped in 2018 using advanced high-resolution 3D sonar technology.
Belize Great Blue Hole Reef
The Great Blue Hole, located near the centre of the Lighthouse Reef atoll, is about 105 kilometres from Placencia. The hole is almost perfectly circular, over 304 meters across and 121 deep, and is almost surrounded by fringing reefs, which make for an excellent snorkel adventure as well. This site was made famous by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who declared it one of the top ten best scuba diving sites in the world. Since then, thousands of divers have made it the reason they have come to dive in Belize.
Also Read- An Unusual Geologic Trail- The Ice Age Flood Trail USA
Lighthouse Reef and the Great Blue Hole are a part of the Belize Barrier Reef system, one of the world’s most pristine marine ecosystems. Comprised of fringing, barrier, and atoll reefs, the area supports a rich diversity of flora and fauna. There are several natural monuments within the atoll, including Half Moon Caye, a marine protected area created by the Belizean government. In the Great Blue Hole Belize map, you can see the Lighthouse Reef and the Great Blue Hole.
Belize Great Blue Hole depth
In the winter of 2018, a crew from Aquatica Submarines started their Journey to the bottom of the Blue Hole. Their mission was to create a 3D map of the sinkhole’s interior, but along the way, they came across something uncommon. As the crew started, they found the reef sharks, turtles, and giant corals. But as they went to a depth of 90 meters, life started to vanish. There was a thick layer of toxic hydrogen sulfide spanning the width of the entire sinkhole like a floating blanket. Underneath that, there’s no oxygen, and no life was found.
Water levels in the surrounding areas of the sinkhole are so shallow that the coral often breaks the surface at low tide. The watercolour of the swallow hole is deep blue in contrast with the aquamarine colour of the water neighbouring it. This sinkhole, when viewed from the sky, has a dark blue tinge because of its depth. The stalactites and stalagmites are huge and measure 9 to 12m in length.
Belize Blue Hole Diving
The Great Blue Hole is a world-class destination for scuba divers attracted by the opportunity to dive in crystal-clear waters and see myriad species of marine life, including spectacular coral formations. The Great Blue Hole is considered one of the top 10 best diving spots in the world.
The Hole lies close to the centre of the Lighthouse Reef, so sea kayaking to view the coral reef is an attraction. The Lighthouse ring-shaped reef houses many sea creatures. The marine life in these areas includes nurse sharks, giant groupers, and several types of reef sharks, such as the Caribbean reef shark and the Blacktip shark, the hawksbill turtle, and stingrays. Many Travel companies organise the Great Blue Hole Belize tour and an amazing snorkelling tour where they can see the incredible view of the Reef system and the Blue Hole.
Read- Geotourism And Modern Geotechniques
There is some other sinkhole in the world. The Dean’s Blue Hole, close to Clarence town on Long Island in the Bahamas, is the world’s deepest sinkhole, measuring a depth of 200m. On the coast of the Red Sea, towards the north of Dahab in Egypt, is the second deepest blue hole.
How To Reach Belize Blue Hole
The Belize Blue Hole is accessible either by air or by sea. You can enjoy a spectacular aerial view via a scenic flight or helicopter tour departing from locations like Belize City, San Pedro, and Caye Caulker. Alternatively, dive or snorkel excursions involve boat trips, which typically depart from the popular base islands of San Pedro and Caye Caulker.
