Goff's Caye
Encyclopedia
Goff's Caye is a small island
off the shore of Belize City
, Belize
. It is situated north of the English Channel and is 1.2 acres (4,856.2 m²) of sandy land. It sits right on the edge of the Belize Barrier Reef
with waters to the south and east being only 0.6 to 3 metres deep. Goff's Caye is registered as an archaeological site due to its Colonial era settlement. During the Colonial times
, the island served as a fishing
camp, trade center and cemetery
.
Among those interred in the cemetery are a number of crew members from HMS Blossom
, who died of Yellow Fever
during a visit to the colony in August 1830.
About 500 cruise ship
tourists visit the island weekly.
around Goff's Caye is very important to fisheries by producing lobster
, conch
and finfish. The area north of the island is also known to be a foraging area for sea turtles.
The reef off Goff's Caye are considered to be one of the best representatives of a healthy reef system
.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
off the shore of Belize City
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in the Central American nation of Belize. Unofficial estimates place the population of Belize City at 70,000 or more. It is located at the mouth of the Belize River on the coast of the Caribbean. The city is the country's principal port and its financial and...
, Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
. It is situated north of the English Channel and is 1.2 acres (4,856.2 m²) of sandy land. It sits right on the edge of the Belize Barrier Reef
Belize Barrier Reef
The Belize Barrier Reef is a series of coral reefs straddling the coast of Belize, roughly offshore in the north and in the south within the country limits...
with waters to the south and east being only 0.6 to 3 metres deep. Goff's Caye is registered as an archaeological site due to its Colonial era settlement. During the Colonial times
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
, the island served as a fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
camp, trade center and cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
.
Among those interred in the cemetery are a number of crew members from HMS Blossom
HMS Blossom
Two ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Blossom: was an 18-gun sloop launched in 1806. She was converted to a survey ship in 1825, was hulked as a lazarette in 1833 and broken up in 1848. was a Cheerful-class wooden screw gunboat, originally to have been named HMS Careful, but renamed...
, who died of Yellow Fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
during a visit to the colony in August 1830.
About 500 cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
tourists visit the island weekly.
Ecosystem
The ecosystemEcosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
around Goff's Caye is very important to fisheries by producing lobster
Lobster
Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most...
, conch
Conch
A conch is a common name which is applied to a number of different species of medium-sized to large sea snails or their shells, generally those which are large and have a high spire and a siphonal canal....
and finfish. The area north of the island is also known to be a foraging area for sea turtles.
The reef off Goff's Caye are considered to be one of the best representatives of a healthy reef system
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
.