The Outer Atolls are part of the Belize Barrier Reef, a series
of coral reefs straddling the coast of Belize. Charles Darwin
referred to the Belize Barrier Reef in 1842, in his study of the
origin and evolution of coral reefs. Since then it has become
renowned as the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere.
Nearly 260km long, it runs from the northern border of the
country, where it is only about 1km offshore, south to the
Sapodilla Cayes which lie some 40km offshore. GLOVER'S REEF
ATOLL Named after the pirate, John Glover, this gleaming
paradise is also a World Heritage site known as Glover's Reef
Marine Reserve. It lies about 70 miles southeast of Belize City,
and is the southern most and secluded of the atolls. Boaters,
sailors, divers, and explorers escape to this palm-fringed
beauty to indulge in its unspoiled magnificence. 15 miles long
by 4 miles wide, Glover's Reef Atoll is a treasure chest filled
with hundreds of coral patches and miles of sheer drop-offs.
Adding to its distinctiveness are the