How old is the blue hole in belize

In addition to the usual charming Caribbean stereotypes, this English-speaking strip of land is also a popular destination for history lovers as pre-Columbian civilisations left a major mark on it. Belize can be discovered on land and at sea. Along its coastline lies the second largest barrier reef in the world , the Belize Barrier Reef, which includes the Lighthouse Reef Atoll — a maritime zone that is home to perhaps the most fascinating and impressive part of the country: the Great Blue Hole.

The scientific community continue to question its huge size as its depth cannot be explained by paleontological theories. These cenotes date back to the ice age , to a time when the sea level was much lower. Yet, the depth of the GBH does not correspond to what we know about the sea levels at that time. The ocean in that region of the world was never that low. Closer analysis of its features reveals that Great Blue Hole was originally an inland cave, before it was flooded by the rising sea levels at some point during its history.

Biodiversity is one of the most important reasons why people want to see Great Blue Hole. In particular, this place is home to several shark species including Caribbean reef sharks, nurse sharks, hammerheads, bull sharks, and black tip sharks.

In fact, it is located right in the middle of Lighthouse Reef, one of the three atolls within the Belize Barrier Reef. However, the origin of the Belize Blue Hole is related to the glacial processes of limestone erosion, not the buildup of corrals. While Great Blue Hole is open on the surface, it features an extensive cave system that requires a lot of diving skill to successfully navigate. Only divers with at least 24 dives under their belt are allowed inside.

Every day, waterfalls of sand fall into it, slowly filling it up like an underwater hourglass. But as for now, we can still admire its beauty and study its many mysteries. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options.

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It often indicates a user profile. Most sea holes, just like the Belize Blue Hole, were submerged at the end of the last great Ice Age some 10, years ago. The Great Blue Hole is meters feet in diameter, the largest blue hole in the world, and it measures meters feet in depth and is a nearly perfectly circular body of water.

In , explorer and oceanographer, Jacques Cousteau from France, publicized the Great Blue Hole as one of the best scuba sites in the world.