St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park
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St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park
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| location | Belize | |
| surface | 2 km² | |
| Geographical location | 17 ° 9 ′ N , 88 ° 41 ′ W | |
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| Setup date | 1986 | |
| administration | Belize Audubon Society | |
St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park (until 2005: Blue Hole National Park ) is a small national park in Belize in the Cayo district . The site was acquired by the state in the 1960s and 1970s and established as a national park in December 1986. It covers an area of 2 km².
geography
The park is just 12 mi (19 km) southeast of the capital, Belmopan . The park covers an area of 575 acres and consists of primary and secondary forests . At its northern limit, from the Hummingbird Highway , a rugged karst area rises steeply to heights of up to 180 m. Some of the major tributaries of the nearby Sibun River run through the area and under the Blue Hole National Park .
Habitat
A large part of central Belize consists of karstified limestone formations, which also have underground streams, sinkholes and an extensive cave system. In the park there is, for example, the St. Herman's Cave , Crystal Cave , as well as the eponymous Blue Hole , a sinkhole.
Blue Hole is a water-filled sinkhole, the waters of which run to the Sibun River. The karst hole is believed to be around 30 m deep and around 100 m in diameter. Another pool nearby is about 8 m deep and has a wonderful sapphire blue color, which gives it its name.
After a short walk through a densely overgrown river bed, the water disappears again in a kind of siphon , which leads into a large underwater cave. The dome-like cavity is an unusual echo chamber. The water is relatively cool due to the underground course, so that the Blue Hole is a popular bathing place. Thousands of visitors come every year.
St. Herman's Cave
St. Herman's Cave is about four hundred yards west of the Hummingbird Highway on the western border of the reserve. Access is also possible through a little-developed hiking trail from the Blue Hole. The most famous of the three entrances explored is very impressive. The entrance is in a sinkhole with a diameter of approx. 30 m, which tapers towards the 20 m wide entrance. Even in ancient times, steps were carved into the rock by the Maya . These had become too unstable and a cemented staircase was recently put in place. The coolness of the cave can already be felt in the vicinity.
The cave is of great archaeological importance. Ceramic vessels used by the Maya to collect the sacred water were found along with spears and torches. These items were seized by the Belize Department of Archeology . The cave is accessible without restriction and a path with signs has been created in the cave. However, there is no artificial lighting.
fauna and Flora
Three of the five species of cats in Belize have been spotted in the park: jaguar , ocelot, and jaguarundi . Other mammal species include the tapir , peccary , anteater and deer. Occasionally black howler monkeys also come close. In addition, live in the park more than a hundred different species of birds, including Myrmotherula schisticolor (Slate Gray Ameisenschnäpper, Slaty Antwren) Myrmotherula schisticolor (Pirate flycatchers) Red-Legged Honeycreeper (Honeycreepers) trogons , Bellbirds (Cotingas) and Mot mots (Hylomanes momotula) and Nightingale Wren ( Microcerculus philomela ).
sightseeing
From the visitor center to Blue Hole and St. Herman's Cave, a "Nature Trail" leads on steep paths through the rainforest.
See also
- Great Blue Hole , the coral fountain off the coast of Belize.
Individual evidence
- ↑ The name was changed to avoid confusion with the Blue Hole National Monument ( Great Blue Hole ).
