Cayes

Also not far offshore are dozens of islands, called cayes, which make for great day trips or secluded stays; Ambergris ❋ Unknown (2011)

The total area of Belize is 2,296,560 hectares (ha) that includes 154,000 ha of lagoons and 69,000 ha of approximately 450 small islands (known as "cayes"). ❋ Unknown (2007)

Other important Mayan sites have been found on some of the cayes of South Water Caye, Sapodilla Cayes and Glovers Reef areas. ❋ Unknown (2009)

The South Water Caye Marine Reserve includes a number of leased and privately owned cayes, or small islands and natural reefs, will not be designated as part of the protected area. ❋ Unknown (2009)

The Sapodilla Cays Marine Reserve includes a total of eight cayes, three of which (Frank's, Nicholas and Lime) are leased and will not be included within the protected area. ❋ Unknown (2009)

The six cayes included within Glover's Reef Marine Reserve are privately owned. ❋ Unknown (2009)

With the decline of the Maya civilization, the reef's resources probably went largely unused for a number of centuries, although early Spanish explorers used the cayes to repair their boats and collect freshwater. ❋ Unknown (2009)

The remaining cayes (Tom Owen's, Northeast Sapodilla, Hunting, Ragged and Seal) are state owned. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Between 300 B.C. and 900 A.D., the coastal waters were probably used extensively for fishing by the Mayans, and trading posts, ceremonial centers and burial grounds were established on the cayes. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Shell middens at Mayan sites along the coast and on the cayes provide evidence that the reefs were used for fishing some 2,500 years ago. ❋ Unknown (2009)

American crocodile Crocodylus acutus (V) occurs among the offshore cayes and atolls, and nesting is known to occur at several sites. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Several cayes have stands of littoral forest with ziricote Cordia sebestena, teabox Myrica cerifera, gumbo limbo Bursera simaruba and coco plum Chrysobalanus icaco. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Nesting occurs at a few mainland sites and on offshore cayes and atolls. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Several bird species of conservation concern are found in the cayes and atolls. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Subsequently, many of the pirates, as well as Puritan traders from the Mosquito Coast of Nicaragua, settled in the cayes, becoming fishermen and plantation owners. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Most of the cayes are mangrove dominated although some are of sand with shrub and coconut vegetation. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Laughing gull Larus artricilla used to breed on Laughing Bird Caye, but due to growing pressure from visitors the bird has moved to nearby cayes. ❋ Unknown (2009)

After reading a research paper on the cayes of Lighthouse Reef Atoll Stoddart 1962, I discovered the history of this particular lighthouse. ❋ Scott Schmidt (2007)

Crowds of Belizeans travel offshore to the cayes to relax on the beach for the long Easter weekend. ❋ Scott Schmidt (2007)