Geometric Boundaries: Does Belize Have Any?

Belize is a country on the Caribbean coast of Central America, with a population of just under 400,000 people. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. Belize's landscape is divided into four main regions: the low-lying Maya Mountains in the south, the northern lowlands where rivers and streams dominate the landscape, swampy areas, and hundreds of offshore islands. The north of Belize consists mostly of flat wetlands and coastal plains, in places heavily forested. The south contains the mountain range of the Maya Mountains. The highest point in Belize is Doyle's Delight at 1,124 m (3,688 ft). Belize's rugged geography has also made the country's coastline and jungle attractive to drug smugglers.

Belize's boundaries with Mexico

Belize shares a geometric boundary with Mexico. The Belize–Mexico land boundary follows the Hondo River for almost the entirety of the border’s length. The boundary was defined in an 1893 treaty signed between the United Kingdom and Mexico, when Belize was the colony of British Honduras. The course of the boundary has remained the same, and there are no border disputes between the two countries. The border separates Belize from the Mexican state of Quintana Roo.

The Hondo River empties into Chetumal Bay, which is the border between the two countries. The Hondo River is one of 18 major rivers and streams that drain the northern lowlands of Belize. The Hondo River is also one of the few rivers in Belize that are navigable.

The border between Mexico and Belize is one of the lesser-used borders by Mexicans, but it has gained notoriety due to recent reports of drug trafficking across the border. Bilateral agreements between Mexico and Belize have been made to combat the issue of drug trafficking across the border.

Belize's boundaries with Guatemala

Belize and Guatemala share a border that is approximately 266km long, close to the 89th meridian west. The border is defined in Article I of the Wyke-Aycinena Treaty of 1859:

> Beginning at the mouth of the River Sarstoon in the Bay of Honduras, and proceeding up the mid-channel thereof to Gracias a Dios Falls; then turning to the right and continuing by a line drawn direct from Gracias a Dios Falls to Garbutt's Falls on the River Belize, and from Garbutt's Falls due north until it strikes the Mexican frontier.

The border has been disputed by Guatemala, which claims that the treaty is void since Britain failed to comply with economic assistance provisions found in Article VII. The situation was partially resolved in 1991 when Guatemala officially recognised Belize's independence and diplomatic relations were established.

The Belize–Guatemala border is an almost straight line that separates the west of Belize's territory from Guatemala. The north–south portion of the boundary was reaffirmed by the Organization of American States (OAS) in 2000. Guatemala's claim stems from a pre-independence 1786 Convention, which places a vague historic boundary in the Sibun River, which lies north of the current border. Guatemala’s claims to Belizean territory have varied over time. Currently, Guatemala seems to map all of Belize as disputed territory.

In 1999, Guatemala shifted its stance back to inheriting claims from the Spanish Empire and the Federal Republic of Central America. Guatemala and Belize both stationed troops at the border, with a one-kilometre "adjacency zone" drawn on either side of the 1859 treaty borders. In 2008, Guatemala and Belize made a pact to have simultaneous referendums for their voters to send the issue to the International Court of Justice. The referendums passed in both countries by May 2019. As of June 2022, both countries are now settling the dispute at the International Court of Justice, with both countries confirmed to have submitted their initial briefs to the organisation. The court is not expected to rule until 2025 at the earliest.

Belize's maritime borders with Honduras

The Gulf of Honduras is characterised by diverse ecosystems, including coastline estuaries, barrier beaches, lagoons, intertidal salt marshes, mangrove forests, seagrass beds, coral reefs, and small islands called cays. The Belize Barrier Reef, part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, forms the southern boundary of the Gulf and extends into Honduran waters.

In terms of maritime boundaries, Belize and Honduras share a maritime border that extends northeast from the Gulf of Honduras. This border follows an equidistance line between the two countries and is part of a broader agreement on maritime boundaries in the region.

The exact location of the maritime border between Belize and Honduras has been a subject of discussion and negotiation between the two countries. While the precise details of the border's location may vary, it generally extends northeast from the Gulf of Honduras, following an equidistance principle.

Belize's maritime boundaries, including those with Honduras, are defined by the Maritime Areas Act (MAA) of 1992. The MAA establishes a 12-nautical-mile (NM) territorial sea for Belize, except in the area between the mouth of the Sarstoon River and Ranguana Caye, where a three-mile limit is claimed. This exception was made to allow for negotiations with Guatemala, which has disputed territorial claims in the region.

The MAA also provides for the delimitation of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and the establishment of baselines for measuring the breadth of the territorial sea. In the case of Belize and Honduras, the median line principle is applied to determine their maritime boundary, taking into account the need to provide Guatemala with access to the high seas.

Overall, the maritime border between Belize and Honduras is a product of geographic factors, international agreements, and the need to balance the interests of all three countries in the region—Belize, Honduras, and Guatemala.

Belize's northern lowlands

The Orange Walk district is home to a large population of Mennonites, who still speak German as their native language and rely on a simple way of life. The Northern Peten and Campeche Regions of the Yucatan, which are drained by the Hondo, Nuevo, and Freshwater Creek river basins, are known as the "Maya Heartland", containing the classic Maya centre of Tikal and hundreds of occupation sites.

Belize's Maya Mountains

Belize is bounded by Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the south and west. The country has a diverse geography, with its northern half consisting of limestone lowlands and swamps, and its southern half dominated by the rugged Maya Mountains. The Maya Mountains are a range of peaks that begin in the western part of Belize and slope gently eastward until they reach the coast. The range extends about 70 miles (115 km) from Guatemala into central Belize. The mountains are named after the Maya people, who retreated into them before the Spanish conquest, leaving behind great centres such as Lubaantun.

The Maya Mountains are the only source of igneous and metamorphic materials in Belize, exposing granite and metamorphosed sandstone. The range's highest peaks are Doyle's Delight, at 3,688 feet (1,124 m), and Victoria Peak, at 3,680 feet (1,120 m). Doyle's Delight is named after Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who described the Belize mountains as "beautiful and wild" in his 1912 book, *The Lost World*. The second-highest peak, Victoria Peak, is classified as a Natural Monument and is located inside the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Maya Mountains are a popular attraction in Belize due to their views, landscapes, wildlife, and waterfalls. Many of Belize's national forests and protected conservation areas are found partially or wholly inside the range. The Hummingbird Highway crosses through the mountain range, providing a scenic drive between San Ignacio and Dangriga.

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