Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, Belize

Half Moon Caye Natural Monument is part of the Lighthouse Reef Atoll and is a protected area including 15sq.mi/39sq.km of the surrounding waters. The caye is a bird sanctuary protecting a colony of about 4,000 of the rare, red-footed booby and is the most visited caye of the atoll. One of only two such colonies in the Caribbean, Half Moon Caye is Belize's oldest national park, created by the Belize Audubon Society in 1982. Cruise ships occasionally moor at Half Moon Caye for day visits.

Apart from the boobies, some 98 other species of birds have been recorded on the caye, including warblers, ospreys and white-crowned pigeons and the magnificent frigate bird. The caye has a lighthouse and excellent beaches, as well as a submerged wall just offshore that is teeming with marine flora and fauna. Half Moon Caye measures 45ac/18ha and holds two distinct ecosystems. The west side has lush vegetation while the east side has less vegetation but more coconut palms.

Half Moon Caye is popular with both birders and divers. The natural setting of the caye provides good hiking, and wildlife enthusiasts should note that both of the endangered loggerhead and hawksbill turtles lay their eggs on the southern beaches of the caye. A number of shipwrecks in the caye's vicinity present opportunities for interesting dives. Half Moon Caye Natural Monument was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1996.

Source : planetware