Turneffe Atoll is the largest and most biologically diverse coral atoll in the Western
Hemisphere. It is approximately 30 miles long and 10 miles wide, and is composed of a group of cayes, lagoons, and lush sea grass beds, all surrounded and protected by a living coral reef “ring.” Located 25 miles east of Belize City, Turneffe Atoll is the closest to the mainland of the three atolls in Belize. Unlike the outer atolls, Turneffe is unique; it is not a ringlet of sandy islets like Lighthouse Reef and Glover's Atoll, but is instead nearly covered with thick green mangroves and a shallow lagoon. Turneffe is the only Caribbean Atoll made up of dozens of mangrove islands which are the juvenile nurseries for coral reefs and many schools of fish.