- St. George's Caye
St. George's Caye is an
island in theCaribbean Sea , eight miles east ofBelize City . It is part of theBelize District ofBelize ,Central America . As of 2000 St. George's Caye had a permanent population of about 20 people.St. George's Caye was previously known by the Spaniards as "Cayo Cosina", or "Kitchen Cay". It was settled as a town in 1650, and was the largest settlement in what was then British Honduras in the 17th century and 18th century; however, its importance was eventually eclipsed by the growth of
Belize City . From3 September through10 September ,1798 , British settlers fought and defeated a small Spanish fleet sent to drive them from the area; this battle is marked as a national holiday in Belize each September 10th as "TheBattle of St. George's Caye " (see also:History of Belize ).The British Army maintains an adventure training establishment on the island, allowing members of the British Forces stationed in nearby BATSUB (British Army Training and Support Unit Belize) and their families a chance to take part in such activities as diving and sailing.
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