Parks renamed to avoid confusion
It has been a source of confusion for decades: two beautiful natural formations, each called the Blue Hole. It wouldn’t be so bad if they were in close proximity, but as most school children know, one sits just off the Hummingbird Highway. While the other lies fifty miles off the coast within the coral ring of Lighthouse Reef. Now, in what can only be considered a victory for common sense, the name of the inland attraction has been changed to St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park. St. Herman’s refers to St. Herman’s Cave, which also forms part of the Park’s acreage. Both the seaward and landward-protected areas are managed by the Belize Audubon Society. At the same time, Audubon has also renamed Tapir Mountain Natural Monument to officially become Actun Tunichil Muknal Natural Monument. Actun Tunichil Muknal is a spectacular cave system that lies within Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve.