Tobacco Caye

16°53′54″N 88°3′43″W﻿ / ﻿16.89833°N 88.06194°W﻿ / 16.89833; -88.06194

Tobacco Caye Dock in Tobacco Caye

Tobacco Caye

Tobacco Caye is a tiny island in Belize, about 10 miles (16 kilometres) east of Dangriga.

It is approximately three acres (1.2 hectares) in area, shaped like a yam, with a north-south dimension of about 240 m (260 yd) and an east-west dimension of 125 metres (137 yards). It has a permanent population of about 20, and sees a regular stream of travelers thanks to the five small lodges on the island.[1]

Tobacco Caye lies within the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, part of Belize's national system of protected waters, with a range of restrictions on fishing.

## History

[edit]

The island is believed to have been named for the early cultivation of tobacco there.[2]

The earliest known European chart to indicate Tobacco Caye was by the British geographer J. Speer in 1771.[3]

The island was ravaged by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 but has since been rebuilt.

The island also features Tobacco Caye Marine Station,[4] a study-abroad education centre focusing on the marine environment around Tobacco Caye. The station also gives information to tourists and runs night snorkels and educational lectures.

## References

[edit]

* Islands portal

1. ^ About.com posting Archived 2012-03-21 at the Wayback Machine
2. ^ Stoddart, D.R. (1982). Cays of the Belize Barrier Reef and Lagoons. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution.
3. ^ Speer, J. (1771). The West-India Pilot. London. p. 15.
4. ^ Tobacco Caye Marine Station

## External links

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* Media related to Tobacco Caye at Wikimedia Commons
* Tobacco Caye travel guide from Wikivoyage