Belize: Island Or Caribbean Coast?

Belize is a country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. While Belize is not an island, it does have a group of islands that sprinkle the coastline and sit in the Caribbean Sea, including Ambergris Caye. The Belize Barrier Reef, the second-longest reef in the world, flanks much of the country's coastline.

Belize's islands and atolls

Belize is not an island, but a country on the northeastern coast of Central America. However, it does have a group of islands, known as cayes, that sprinkle its coastline to the west of the Caribbean Sea. Belize is home to three of the four atolls in the Western Hemisphere. These atolls are Glover's Reef Atoll, Lighthouse Reef Atoll, and Turneffe Atoll.

Glover's Reef Atoll

Glover's Reef Atoll is named after the 17th-century pirate John Glover, who used the area as a base to raid Spanish merchant ships. It is located approximately 45 km off the coast of Belize and features a shallow lagoon with over 700 patch reefs. This makes it an excellent location for snorkelling, stand-up paddleboarding, and sea kayaking. The Glover's Reef Marine Reserve was established in 1993 and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Lighthouse Reef Atoll

Lighthouse Reef Atoll is the most remote of Belize's atolls, located approximately 80 km southeast of Belize City. It is home to over 20 renowned dive and snorkel sites, including the Blue Hole, Half Moon Wall, and the Aquarium. The coral reefs within the atoll's lagoon harbour around 200 species of fish. The Great Blue Hole and Half Moon Caye have been designated as Natural Monuments and UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1996.

Turneffe Atoll

Turneffe Atoll is the largest coral atoll in Belize, located off the coast of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. It was declared a marine reserve in 2012 and is home to a diverse range of marine life, including over 500 species of fish, 65 species of stony corals, sea turtles, manatees, dolphins, seabirds, and other wildlife.

Belize's Islands

Belize has roughly 386 km of coastline and is dotted with more than 450 small islands and cayes in the Caribbean Sea. Ambergris Caye, the largest island in Belize, is a popular tourist destination known for its white sandy beaches, mangrove swamps, and rich marine life. Caye Caulker, a smaller island, offers a laid-back tropical island experience at affordable prices. Other notable islands include Goff's Caye, Half Moon Caye National Monument, Laughing Bird Caye, and Ranguana Caye.

Belize's history as a British colony

Belize, which was known as British Honduras until 1973, was the last British colony on the American mainland. Its prolonged path to independence was marked by a unique international campaign (even while it was still a British colony) against the irredentist claims of its neighbour Guatemala.

In 1798, the British defeated the Spanish in the Battle of St. George's Caye, and Belize became a colony in all but name. The British government instructed the superintendent to assume authority over the granting of land in 1817, and he assumed the power to appoint magistrates in 1832. In 1854, a constitution formally created a Legislative Assembly of 18 members, who were elected by a limited franchise, and the next year the Laws in Force Act validated the settlers' land titles.

In 1862, the Settlement of Belize in the Bay of Honduras was declared a British colony called British Honduras, and the Crown's representative was elevated to a lieutenant governor, subordinate to the governor of Jamaica. In 1871, the Legislative Assembly was abolished, and British Honduras became a Crown colony. British Honduras remained subordinate to Jamaica until 1884, when it acquired a separate colonial administration under an appointed governor.

In the 1930s, the economy was hit by the worldwide Great Depression, and Belize City was largely destroyed by a hurricane in 1931. A series of strikes and demonstrations by labourers and the unemployed gave rise to a trade union movement and to demands for democratization. The right to vote for the Legislative Assembly was reintroduced in 1936, but property, literacy, and gender qualifications severely limited the franchise.

When the governor used his reserve powers to devalue the currency at the end of 1949, leaders of the trade union and the Creole middle class formed a People’s Committee to demand constitutional changes. The People’s United Party (PUP) emerged from the committee in 1950 and led the independence movement. The PUP would be the dominant political party for the next 30 years.

Belize achieved independence on September 21, 1981, but it has retained its historical link with the United Kingdom through membership in the Commonwealth.

Belize's diverse culture

Belize is a melting pot of diverse cultures, languages, and ethnicities. The country is home to several ethnic groups, including Creole, East Indian, European, Garifuna, Lebanese, Maya, Mennonite, and Mestizo, each with their unique cultural and linguistic traditions. While English is the official language, Belize is considered a trilingual country, as Spanish is the first language for the majority, and Belizean Kriol is also widely spoken.

The Mestizo people, who make up roughly half of Belize's population, are a mix of Spanish colonials and native Maya people. The Garifuna, or Garinagu, are descendants of West African slaves and native Carib Indians, specifically the Arawak Indians. They constitute around 4.5% of the population and are known for their fishing, cassava harvesting, and basket weaving. The Creole people, who make up about a quarter of Belize's population, are primarily mixed-race descendants of West and Central Africans and British and Scottish log cutters.

Belize's cultural diversity also extends to its food. The national dish consists of boiled rice, vegetables, egg, fish, and bread dumplings (boiled dough). Other staples include maize, beans, squashes, and chilli peppers.

Belize's diverse society is a result of its history as a former British colony and its location in Central America, surrounded by Spanish-speaking countries. The country has strong ties to both the Caribbean and Central America and is considered a part of the Caribbean due to its shared history with other English-speaking Caribbean countries and its membership in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Belize's cultural diversity is a source of resilience and strength, with many cultures mixing and intertwining to form unique cultural identities. The country's motto, "Sub umbra floreo," meaning "Under the shade I flourish," captures the unity and flourishing of its diverse communities.

Belize's geography and natural features

Belize is a small Central American country located on the northeastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. With a coastline of approximately 386 kilometres, Belize boasts the second-longest barrier reef in the world, stretching about 322 kilometres. The country also has many islands and coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea, including Ambergris Caye, Lighthouse Reef, and the Turneffe Islands.

Belize's geography can be divided into two main regions. The southern half is dominated by the visually striking Maya Mountains, with the highest point being Doyle's Delight, reaching 1,124 metres in elevation. The mountains are covered in shallow, erodible soils and are heavily forested, with sparse human habitation. The associated basins and plateaus complement the mountainous landscape.

In contrast, the second region comprises the northern lowlands and the southern coastal plain. This area is characterised by flat, swampy coastlines with many lagoons, especially in the northern and central parts of the country. The northern coastal areas feature mangrove swamps, which transition to tropical pine savannas and hardwood forests as you move inland. Eighteen major rivers and numerous perennial streams drain these low-lying regions.

Belize's geology is primarily composed of limestone, except for the Maya Mountains, which consist of granite and Paleozoic sediments. The country has a tropical climate with a rainy season from June to November and a dry season from January to May. Hurricanes and coastal flooding, particularly in the south, pose natural hazards.

Belize's natural resources include arable land, timber, fish, and hydropower potential. However, the country faces environmental issues such as deforestation and water pollution from various sources.

Belize's population and demographics

Belize is the least populated and least densely populated country in Central America, with a population of 397,483 as of 2022. The population growth rate of 1.87% per year is one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere. Belize's population is diverse, with a mix of Mestizo-Hispanic/Latino (51.7%), Creole (25.2%), Maya (9.8%), Garifuna (4%), and East Indian (1.5%) people, among other ethnicities. The country has a high rate of multilingualism, with over half of the population speaking languages such as English, Spanish, Belizean Creole, Mayan languages, German dialects, and Garifuna.

Belize's population is distributed across six districts, with the majority (about one-fourth) living in Belize City, the former capital and principal port. The capital, Belmopan, has a population of 19,931. The country's population is mostly rural, with slightly more than half living in rural areas. Belize has a young population, with 32.57% of people under 14 years old and only 4.53% over 65. The population is also largely Christian, with about 80% following various denominations.

Belize has a high total fertility rate of 2.010 children per woman and a birth rate of 17.8 births per 1,000 people. However, the country experiences significant emigration, particularly of Creole and other ethnic groups, to the United States, the United Kingdom, and other developed nations. At the same time, Belize has seen an influx of refugees and migrants from neighbouring Central American countries, leading to a substantial ethnic-demographic shift over the years.

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