{{Short description|Atoll off the coast of Belize, Central America}} thumb|200px|right|Douglas Caye (West) 200px|right|thumb|Nautical map of Turneffe Islands '''Turneffe Atoll''' is located southeast of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, off the coast of Belize in Central America, {{convert|20|mi|km|abbr=off}} from Belize City. It is one of three atolls of the Belize Barrier Reef, along with Glover's Reef and Lighthouse Reef. It is approximately {{convert|30|mi|km|abbr=off}} long and {{convert|10|mi|km|abbr=off}} wide, making it the largest coral atoll in Belize and in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.<ref>{{cite web|title=Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve Management Plan|url=http://www.turneffeatoll.org/app/webroot/userfiles/66/File/Final%20Turneffe%20Atoll%20Management%20Plan%2014%2009%202012%20Fisheries%20Edited.pdf|publisher=Belize Fisheries Department|accessdate=4 May 2013|page=6|year=2011}}</ref> The atoll was officially declared a marine reserve on November 22, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Turneff Atolls Declared National Park|url=http://amandala.com.bz/news/turneff-atolls-declared-national-park//|publisher=Amandala Newspaper|accessdate=2 Jun 2014|date=27 November 2012}}</ref>
In October 2013, the Ministry and the Belize Fisheries Department appointed the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA) to co-manage the Reserve's day-to-day operations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.turneffeatollmarinereserve.org/reserve-management?1545233111|title=Management|website=Turneffeatollmarinereserve.org|language=en|access-date=2018-12-19}}</ref> The creation of the reserve was championed and supported by a number of NGOs and foundations including the Blue Marine Foundation, the Bertarelli Foundation and the Oak Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bluemarinefoundation.com/project/turneffe-atoll/|title=Turneffe Atoll, Belize|website=Blue Marine Foundation|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fondation-bertarelli.org/marine/marine-protection/belize/|title=Belize – Fondation Bertarelli|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.turneffeatollmarinereserve.org/management-plan?1545233210|title=Management Plan|website=Turneffeatollmarinereserve.org|language=en|access-date=2018-12-19}}</ref>
Turneffe is home to many marine species that are threatened and/or commercially important. The land and seascape consists of a network of highly productive flats, creeks, and lagoons dotted by more than 150 mangrove islands and higher cayes with savanna and littoral forest. Large expanses of intact mangrove and seagrass habitat and shallows provide important nursery functionality for a wide array of fish species, crocodiles, lobster, conch and other invertebrates. It is home to more than 500 species of fish, 65 species of stony corals, sea turtles, manatees, dolphins, seabirds, and other wildlife.<ref>{{cite web|title=Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve|url=https://www.oceanicsociety.org/projects/turneffe-atoll-marine-reserve|website=Oceanicsociety.org|accessdate=14 April 2016}}</ref> In addition, at least three known important fish spawning aggregation sites have been identified.<ref>{{cite web|title=Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve Management Plan|url=http://www.turneffeatoll.org/app/webroot/userfiles/66/File/Final%20Turneffe%20Atoll%20Management%20Plan%2014%2009%202012%20Fisheries%20Edited.pdf|publisher=Belize Fisheries Department|accessdate=18 June 2013|page=6|year=2011}}</ref>
At the northern end of the island group is Mauger Caye, with its eponymous lighthouse, the southern end has a smaller aid to navigation on Caye Bokel.
==History== The infamous pirate Blackbeard, also known as Edward Teach, spent the winter of 1717–1718 harassing ships sailing to and from the port of Vera Cruz, Mexico and traversing the Bay of Honduras.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Woodard|first1=Colin|title=A Blackbeard mystery solved|url=http://republicofpirates.net/blog/2008/05/a_blackbeard_mystery_solved.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908041901/http://republicofpirates.net/blog/2008/05/a_blackbeard_mystery_solved.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 8, 2008|website=Republic of Pirates Blog|accessdate=25 March 2016}}</ref> Between 4 and 5 April 1718, at Turneffe, Blackbeard captured the ten-gun logwood cutting sloop ''Adventure'' and forced its captain, David Herriot, to join him. Also on board was Edward Robinson, the ship’s gunner, who would later be involved in the Battle of Cape Fear River.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brown|first1=Paul|title=The Lost Pirate of Blackbeard's Golden Age|url=https://en.expostmagazine.com/the-lost-pirate-of-blackbeard-s-golden-age-59b65c2c5235#.z3uj5v1bv|website=en.expostmagazine.com|accessdate=9 August 2016}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref> Blackbeard then made Israel Hands captain of the ''Adventure'' and began sailing for North Carolina.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Byrd Downey|first1=Cristopher|title=Stede Bonnet: Charleston's Gentleman Pirate|date=22 May 2012|publisher=The History Press|isbn=978-1609495404|page=44|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jSNmqFqIzfEC&q=William+Wyer+blackbeard&pg=PA44|accessdate=25 March 2016}}</ref>
==References== {{Portal|Islands}} {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *[https://www.oceanicsociety.org/projects/turneffe-atoll-marine-reserve Oceanic Society] *[https://www.history.org/Foundation/journal/blackbea.cfm When Blackbeard Scourged the Seas], History.org * [http://www.fayobserver.com/elite/travel/out-to-sea/article_4f3210cd-21fb-501d-b4a3-6d65e237cd65.html Out to Sea], Elite Magazine
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Category:Atolls of Belize Category:Belize District Category:Belize Rural South Category:Uninhabited islands of Belize Category:Islands of Belize Category:Caribbean Sea