In 1836 Charles Darwin stated that the Belize Atolls and reefs were "the richest and most remarkable coral reefs in the entire western Caribbean.” The Belize reef is the second largest in the world after the Australian barrier reef. It is roughly 300 kilometers long and holds 106 different species of coral and 500 species of fish. It is one of the worlds best scuba diving locations. It is a vital part of the Belizean economy because the fishing industry relies heavily on the reef. Half of the tourists who visit Belize , about 280,000 people, travel to the reef each year providing a major source of revenue for the country.
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