
The 'Gulf of Honduras' is shown in the center of this map
The 'Gulf' or 'Bay of Honduras' is a large inlet of the
Caribbean Sea, indenting the coasts of
Belize,
Honduras and
Guatemala. From north to south, it runs for approximately 200km from
Dangriga, Belize, to
La Ceiba, Honduras.
Many rivers flow into the gulf from mainland
Central America, including the
Motagua and the
Ulúa, and
Lago de Izabal in Guatemala is also connected to the gulf by a narrow channel.
A large number of
reefs and
cays exist in the Gulf of Honduras, collectively known as the
Pelican Cays. It is home to the world's second largest coral reef, the
Belize Barrier Reef.
Many
American anglers visit the Gulf of Honduras to catch the
marlin that abound there.
Tourists are often taken on boat trips to the Pelican Cays, notably
Caye Caulker and
Ambergris Caye.
In
1961 Hurricane Hattie swept across the Gulf of Honduras, destroying buildings in Belize.