St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park

17°09′22″N 88°41′06″W / 17.156°N 88.685°W / 17.156; -88.685

Welcome Sign to the Blue Hole National Park
The blue hole

St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park is a national park located just off the Hummingbird Highway in Cayo District of Belize, near Belmopan, the capital city. It is over 500 acres (2 km²) in area, and contains two cave systems (St. Hermans and Crystal), various natural trails, and the cool jungle pool from which the park gets its name. The park is managed by the Belize Audubon Society.

This inland "blue hole" is not to be confused with the offshore Great Blue Hole, also in Belize.

History

The Government of Belize acquired the land for the park in the 1960s and '70s. It was officially declared a national park on November 23, 1986. The park was originally named Blue Hole National Park, but its name was changed in 2005 in order to avoid confusion with Blue Hole National Monument.[1]

Flora and fauna

The park has over 200 species of birds, including unusual tropical species such as the slaty antwren, piratic flycatcher and red-legged honeycreeper. Species considered local specialties are tody motmot and northern nightingale-wren.[2]

The ocelot, jaguarundi, and jaguar have all been recorded in Blue Hole National Park.

See also

References

  1. ^ "St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park". Belize Audubon Society. Archived from the original on 3 October 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  2. ^ Wheatley, Nigel and Brewer, David (2001). Where to Watch Birds in Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
A 360 degree view from the observation tower at Blue Hole National Park, Belize CA
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