How The Barrier Reef Protects Belize From Hurricanes?

November 3, 2022
by Larry Waight +

Coral reefs protect people and property from destruction by nature in a unique way. They act like a buffer, thus protecting the coastline from heavy storms, waves, and floods. In doing so, they help prevent huge calamities such as loss of life, and property destruction. In the event these reefs get destroyed, there is no longer a natural buffer to protect the coastal lines from violent storms and waves.

In Belize, thousands of people live in coastal areas and most of them are near these coral reefs. In recent years, there has been extensive coastal development to accommodate coastal residents and tourists. Unfortunately, these developments can impact marine life and nature in many ways. At times, they might cause damage to the coral reefs. Therefore, the life of coral reefs depends on proper and planned development, aiming to protect such ecosystems.

The Belize Barrier Reef – A World Heritage Site

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Indeed, the Belize Barrier Reef is one of the most beautiful places in the world. This reef is home to different marine ecosystems. It measures over 190 miles in length and is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. Some of Belize’s islands are just in and around this reef. Such islands include English Caye, Ambergris Caye, Blackbird Caye, Three ConerCaye, St. George’s Caye, and many more. Here, you will also find uniquely beautiful dive sites including the Lighthouse Reef.

Here are a few facts about the Belize barrier reef:
• It’s Belize’s number 1 tourist attraction
• It’s home to over 70 species of hard coral, 30 species of soft coral, and 500 fish species
• Became a World Heritage site in 1996
• 90% of the reef is yet to be investigated and discovered
• You can spot sharks from the reef
• The reef is a major economy contributor
• A hurricane almost destroyed it in 1998
• It’s a top fishing destination for locals and tourists
• It dates back less than 10,000 years
• The reef is very fragile and needs protection

The Belize Reef has so many benefits to the country, but one of the unrealized benefits is its ability to protect people and property. As you can see in this video, the Belize Barrier Reef protected Belize from Hurricane Lisa which hit on Wednesday. With maximum winds of 85 mph, it would have been a disaster, but the reef played a major role in protecting Belize. Therefore, this reef must be protected because it can help the country from such storms in the future.