The Great blue Whale is an underwater sinkhole believed to be the largest of its kind, over 984 feet across and 410 feet deep. Located 100 kms off the coast of Belize, it lies in the centre of the Lighthouse Reef atoll, where an island of coral encircles the shallow waters of a lagoon. The sinkhole originally formed as a limestone cave, but as the ocean began to rise, the cave flooded and collapsed, creating a “vertical cave” in the ocean. Divers flock to the area to see its huge stalactites and stalagmites, some reaching 30-40 feet in length. Analysis of stalactites revealed that the hole was created over several periods ranging from 153,000, 66,000 and 15,000 years ago. The Great Blue Hole is part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, a UNESCO world heritage site.
The Great Blue Hole is its varied marine life. Some species that you can come across include nurse sharks, Caribbean reef shark, butterfly fish, angel fish, midnight parrotfish and groupers. Turtles, parrotfish, angelfish, and butterfly fish.
150 types of coral exist within or around the area. All the coral is varying and different and very much physically featured in many different sizes, shapes, variations and colours. They all co exist with the marine wildlife in the area.
Picture Credit : Google