South Water Caye Marine Reserve
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| South Water Caye Marine Reserve | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
  Map of Belize | |
| Location | Gulf of Honduras, Belize |
| Nearest city | Dangriga |
| Coordinates | 16°43′08″N 88°08′56″W / 16.719°N 88.149°W[1] |
| Area | 47,702 hectares (117,870 acres)[2] |
| Established | 1996 |
| Governing body | Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment |
South Water Caye Marine Reserve is the largest marine reserve in the Stann Creek district of Belize. It was established in 1996 and covers 47,702 hectares (117,870 acres) of mangrove and coastal ecosystems.[2] It includes the crown reserve of Man-O-War Caye, a nesting site for the brown booby and magnificent frigatebird. In 2017, National Geographic named Pelican Beach on South Water Caye one of the 21 best beaches in the world.[3]
