2. Mesoamerican Reef

Found in the Caribbean Sea as well as some parts of Mexico and Belize to start with, the Mesoamerican Reef has the largest barrier reef within the Western Hemisphere. From the Yucatan Peninsula, it spans 700 miles until it reaches the Honduran Bay Islands. Anyone who has ever seen this area can attest to the beautiful range of corals and marine life which are homes to hundreds of species of fish, turtles and even sharks. Mangroves also grow along the coastline, which are then the habitats of several species of fish as well as shorebirds while also protecting the environment from damages incurred by storms.