THE CARBBEAN AREA — HONDURAS 



then along the coast of Honduras near the shore. It does not appear on the surface until it 

 passes Chincorro Bank, where it escapes Sram. the influence of the warm water of the equatorial 

 current and passes into the cooler regions of the northers. 



Around Turneffe Islands, Lighthouse, and Glover Reefs (British Honduras) the current 

 auLmost invariably sets to the southward, also on the inside passage froa Belize to Puerto 

 Barrios, turning to the eastward at the latter point and flowing along the coast inside the 

 100- fathom curve as far as Patuca Point, vfhere it turns again, folloTfing the shoreline to 

 Cape Gracias a Dios. From this point to Gorda Point, it runs close to the shore, inside the 

 lO-fathom curve, and then sweeps to the noriJieastward along the shore of the Spanish Main. 



This current is affected by tides to a certain extent, which have a range of 1-1/4 to 

 I-I/2 feet, the rising tide setting northward and the opposite tide to the southward and 

 eastward J the cui-rent establishing the doniinant flow being strongest with the tidal current 

 and weakest against it. 



The axis of the equatorial current passes between Rosalind Bank and shoals, past 

 Misteriosa Bank, to the western side of Yucatan Channel, its influence extending far to 

 the westward, particularly when the northwest trades blow strongly. On the shoals, it 

 extends westward as far as Vivario Cays, and thence to the northward of Chincorro Bank, 

 with very little current between the Swan Islands and the reefs outside Belize; but, when 

 the northers have stopped, the surface influence is felt as far as Bonacca and Roatan 

 Islands, irtiex^ the current turns again to the northward. 



These complicated movements increase the difficulty of navigating around the Bay 

 Islands, as the currents are so uncertain. There are further complications with the tides 

 which have a mean range of 2-3/A feet at Bonacca and 2-1/4- feet at Roatan. As a resxilt of 

 these movements, two eddies, apparently, are developed, one in the Gulf of Honduras, and the 

 other to the northward of Utlla Island with counter-clockwise movements. 



In midsummer, owing to heat expansion, the equatorial current is strongest and covers 

 the greatest area; in late sunmier, owing to evaporation, the trade winds are strongest, and 

 in autumn hurricanes occur because of the sudden atmospheric changes. Any of these conditions 

 may cause a deflection in surface movement between Rosalind Bank and Cozumel Island; and, when 

 the current is deflected, it runs directly by the Bay Islands toward the Belize Cays. When it 

 strikes there, it turns to the northward, running strongly toward Cape Catoche and sometimes 

 attaining a velocity of four knots between Cozumel Island and the mainland. 



The smnaer conditions induce greater irregvilarlty in the currents around the Gulf of 

 Honduras and the Bay Islands than those of winter. The equatorial current and the counter 

 current run in nearly opposite directions near the Bay Islands in the summer season, ■«ftiich 

 in itself would cause a whirl in the Gulf of Honduras, and it is further cooplicated at this 

 point by tidal conditions. 



Within the 100-fathoai curve, the current is with the falling tide, but at the islands of 

 Roatan and Bonacca the current is with the rising tide and agalrist the other stream. The 

 currents in the Caribbean Sea are generally strongest irtien the sea is smoothest. 



In the winter season, the equatoiT.al current is confined to narrow limits and runs 

 almost directly from Punta de Gallinas to Cape Catoche in an easy curve, while the cool streams 

 from the north, assisted by the northers, flow down the coast past Chinchorro Bank and Light- 

 house Reef, through to the Bay Islands, and along the coast to Cape Gracias a Dios. 



Average sea-'rater surface ten^ieratures in the Gulf of Honduras are coolest in February 

 (78.4 degrees F.). They rise gradxially to 83.4 degrees F. in September and then drop to the 

 mtnimums in February. Over the northeast coast and SUskito Bank region, February temperatures 

 of 78.8 degrees F. are the coolest average monthly readings. Ther« is then a rise to September 

 when average ten55erature reaches 83.2 degrees F. Ffo.11 September on, the temperatures drop to 

 the Bebruary minimums. 



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