Gulf of Honduras

westernmost part of the Caribbean Sea

Key facts

Location: Northwestern Caribbean
Type: Gulf
Etymology: Las honduras ( Spanish ) / ie the depths
River sources: Belize Sibun Sittee Monkey Sarstoon Dulce Motagua Chamelecon Ulua
Primary outflows: Caribbean Sea
Basin countries: Mexico Belize Guatemala Honduras
Max length: 150 mi (240 km)
Max width: 105 mi (169 km)
Surface area: 7,380 mi (19,100 km )
Average depth: 98 ft (30 m) (on continental shelf) 6,600 ft (2,000 m) (off continental shelf)
Settlements: Belize Dangriga Hopkins Placencia Punta Gorda Livingston Puerto Barrios Omoa Puerto Cortes Tela La Ceiba
References

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Article

The Gulf of Honduras, also called the Bay of Honduras, is a large inlet of the Caribbean Sea, indenting the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. From north to south it runs from Cape Catoche to Caxinas Point.

The inner Gulf of Honduras is lined by the Belize Barrier Reef which forms the southern part of the 900 km (600 mile) long Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the second-largest coral reef system in the world. The Belize Barrier Reef includes a number of small islands, called cays, and collectively known as the Pelican Cays.