Marine Places
Belize Coast Mangroves
The mangrove swamps here are a nursery ground for many fish species associated with the huge Belize Barrier Reef. By filtering runoff from rivers and trapping sediment, the mangroves also protect the clarity of the coastal waters, helping the coral reef to survive. Numerous cays—small islands composed largely of coral or sand—along the coast are covered with mangroves and form a habitat for birds. In all, more than 250 bird species share the swamps with West Indian manatees and a variety of reptiles, including boa constrictors, American crocodiles, and iguanas.
- Atlantic Ocean West
- Principal Species Red, black, white, and button mangroves
- Area 1,100 square miles (2,800 square km)
- Location Eastern Belize, on the western margins of the Caribbean Sea
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