The Height Of Ambergris Caye: A Tropical Paradise Above Sea Level

Ambergris Caye in Belize is an island that sits between 2 and 7 metres (or 7 to 24 feet) above sea level. It is the largest of the 200-plus cayes (islands) located off the Belize coast and is a popular tourist destination, known for its scuba diving and snorkelling.

Ambergris Caye's elevation ranges from 7 to 24 feet above sea level

Ambergris Caye, the largest of the 200-plus cayes (islands) located off the Belize coast, has an elevation range of 7 to 24 feet above sea level. The island is approximately 25 miles or 40 kilometers long from north to south, with a width ranging from 1 mile to 5 miles at its widest point. The only town on the island, San Pedro, is home to an estimated 17,400 people living within its 17,600 acres of space.

The varying elevation of Ambergris Caye is due to the presence of bedrock near the surface, which creates hills and ridges across the island. The highest elevation on the island is found in the northern part, which also boasts some of the best beaches. The bedrock provides a sturdy foundation that makes land erosion more difficult and slower, compared to softer ground found in other regions.

The elevation of Ambergris Caye plays a crucial role in its resilience to rising sea levels. The island's proximity to the equator results in a minimal tidal variance of around 1 foot. Additionally, the presence of mangroves, which act as a natural protection against erosion, further contributes to the island's stability.

The combination of factors, including its elevation, geographic location, and natural features, makes Ambergris Caye well-situated to withstand the impacts of rising sea levels and severe storms.

The island is susceptible to rising sea levels, though its proximity to the equator means the tidal variance is minimal

Ambergris Caye, the largest of the 200-plus cayes (islands) located off the Belize coast, is susceptible to rising sea levels. However, its close proximity to the equator means that tidal variance is minimal. Belize is located at 17°15' north of the equator, which means that the moon's gravitational pull has less impact on the rising tide and sea levels than further north or south. This results in a tidal variance of around 1 foot.

The island's sturdy bedrock also makes it more resistant to erosion than other coastal destinations. The bedrock, which is just a few feet below the surface, provides a strong foundation that makes land erosion a slow process. The elevation of properties on the island ranges from 13 feet to 24 feet above sea level.

The mangroves on the island also play a crucial role in land retention and preventing erosion. The mangrove forests effectively reduce surface wave strength, with a wave reduction of about two times larger in areas with mangroves compared to areas without.

Ambergris Caye's location also makes it less vulnerable to the full force of large storms and hurricanes. The Belize Barrier Reef, located just 400 yards off the coast, acts as a natural barrier, and beyond that lies some of the deepest water in the Caribbean. This combination helps to protect the island from the worst effects of storms and reduces the potential for storm surges, which are a major cause of destruction during hurricanes.

The combination of these factors—proximity to the equator, sturdy bedrock, protective mangroves, and the presence of the Belize Barrier Reef—makes Ambergris Caye less susceptible to the impacts of rising sea levels compared to other coastal areas.

However, it is important to note that rising sea levels are still a concern for any coastal destination, and Ambergris Caye is no exception. While the island may be better protected than some other regions, the potential impacts on erosion, infrastructure, and the local ecosystem cannot be overlooked.

The bedrock close to the surface makes land erosion more difficult

Ambergris Caye, Belize, is an island located half a mile from the Belize Barrier Reef. It is a popular tourist destination, particularly for divers and snorkelers. The elevation of the island ranges from 13 to 24 feet above sea level.

Most of Ambergris Caye has bedrock close to the surface. This sturdy ground makes land erosion more difficult. The bedrock moves like hills below the surface, and the hard ground takes centuries to erode. The bedrock also limits the level of land erosion compared to softer ground or volcanic rock, which is more susceptible to erosion.

The presence of bedrock near the surface has implications for construction on the island. For example, buildings are often secured by drilling into the bedrock, as soil and unconsolidated rock cannot support the weight of a building. Additionally, the bedrock serves as a source of nitrogen in the Earth's nitrogen cycle.

The bedrock on Ambergris Caye provides a strong foundation that helps protect the island from erosion. This, along with the presence of mangroves and the island's proximity to the equator, contributes to its resilience in the face of rising sea levels.

Mangroves on the island are a natural protection from land erosion

Mangroves are trees that exist in the unique environment between land and sea. In Belize, they form a vital part of the natural ecosystem, bordering much of the coastline and cayes of the country. Mangroves are extremely effective at protecting shorelines from storm surges and waves, even when the stand of trees is only a few metres wide. They do this by holding the soil together, preventing coastal erosion and sediment from falling into the sea. This is especially important as too much sediment can kill coral reefs, which require clean water to survive.

Mangroves are also important nursery grounds and homes for many marine and fish species, such as conch. They filter nutrients and sediments out of tidal waters, increasing water quality and clarity, which helps promote healthy coral reef systems.

The presence of mangrove vegetation reduces water flows and waves. When these systems are disturbed or removed, their wave-buffering effect is lost, resulting in a faster rate of coastal erosion. This is why mangroves are the most natural protection from land erosion on Ambergris Caye.

In addition to their ecological importance, mangroves also provide climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience benefits. They sequester carbon, removing carbon dioxide from the environment and storing it in their soils. If left undisturbed, this carbon can remain in place for millennia.

However, mangroves are continually threatened by increasing demand for coastal development, such as hotels and resorts. In Belize, recent changes in policies give hope that the value of mangroves will be appreciated and protected. The government has revised the country's national mangrove regulations, including robust screening of land clearance proposed within mangrove landscapes, higher fees for applications and permits, and a strong focus on restoration or planting of mangroves in degraded areas.

The Belize Barrier Reef, just off the coast, acts as a wall against storms

Ambergris Caye, Belize's largest island, is situated just half a mile from the Belize Barrier Reef. The Belize Barrier Reef is a 300km-long section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which is the second-largest coral reef system in the world. The Belize Barrier Reef is a series of coral reefs that run parallel to the Belize coast, sitting roughly 300 metres offshore in the north and 40 kilometres offshore in the south.

The Belize Barrier Reef acts as a wall against storms, protecting the coast of Belize from their full force. In addition to this, the reef also protects the coast from the effects of rising sea levels. The further a location is from the equator, the more the moon's gravitational pull affects the rising tide and sea levels. Belize's proximity to the equator means that the change in tidal variance is minimal.

The Belize Barrier Reef is also home to a diverse array of plant and animal species, including 70 hard coral species, 36 soft coral species, and hundreds of invertebrate species. It is a vital part of Belize's fishing industry and is also a top tourist destination, attracting almost half of the country's 260,000 visitors.

However, the reef is under threat from oceanic pollution, uncontrolled tourism, shipping, fishing, and global warming. It is claimed that over 40% of Belize's coral reef has been damaged since 1998, with coral bleaching events and hurricanes being particularly harmful.

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