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Where Is the Largest Coral Reef Outside Australia?

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Quick Answer

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef stretches about 1,000 km along the Caribbean coast from Mexico to Honduras.

The Full Story

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, running about 1,000 km from the northern tip of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula through Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras, is the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere and the second largest in the world after Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The Belize Barrier Reef portion is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The system supports over 500 fish species and 65 coral species, along with endangered species like the West Indian manatee and several sea turtle species.

Key Facts

1.The Great Blue Hole, a giant marine sinkhole off Belize, is part of this reef system.
2.The reef sustains the livelihoods of about one million people through fishing and tourism.
3.Bleaching events and hurricane damage have threatened large sections in recent years.

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"The Caribbean's Hidden Reef — 1,000 Kilometres of Coral"

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