National Parks
Belize has a rich natural geography, from jungle forests, karst terrain and swampy mangroves to tropical beaches. Consequently, the country is eager to promote ecotourism and there exists a number of protected areas, including marine reserves and national parks.
Twelve miles southeast of Belmopan, the Blue Hole National Park pays tribute to the curious Blue Hole, a collapsed water sinkhole, 7.6m (25 feet) deep, of intense colour. The park is a natural forest reserve that is home to an abundance of birds, animals, flora and St Herman’s Cave, an ancient Mayan cave.
Five Blues Lake National Park is situated at the foot of the spectacular Mayan Mountains and covers over 1619 hectares (4000 acres) of tropical forest. The eponymous lake is a collapsed cave system, known as a cenote or blue hole, and appears in an array of aqua hues. There is an amazing wealth of wildlife and fauna to be seen here.
At the junction to the Cayo District from the Hummingbird and Western highways, lies Guanacaste National Park, taking its name from the giant Guanacaste trees at the edge of the reserve. With over a hundred species of bird and highlighted trails with information on the trees and plants within the forest, the park is popular as an introduction to the diverse environment of Belize.
Laughing Bird Caye National Park is a shelf atoll, ideal for diving, but is also a habitat for the unusual laughing gulls. The Caye is situated 21km (13 miles) southeast of Placencia Village in the Stann Creek District.
The Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area contains 81,745 hectares (202,000 acres) of preserved forests and marshlands which provides a home for a rich array of birds and endangered species, including Jaguars, Pumas, Black Howler Monkeys, Margays, Ocellated Turkeys and Brocket Deer. Over 40 Mayan ruins have also been discovered here. The conservation park is located near the Orange Walk district of Belize.
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