Hemispheric Happenings: Unveiling Belize's Hemisphere Mystery

Belize is a small Central American nation located in the northern hemisphere. It is found at 17°15′ north of the equator and 88°45′ west of the Prime Meridian on the Yucatán Peninsula. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south.

Belize's geographical coordinates

Belize is located on the Caribbean coast of northern Central America, at 17°15′ north of the equator and 88°45′ west of the Prime Meridian on the Yucatán Peninsula. The country shares land borders with Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a water boundary with Honduras to the southeast.

The land area of Belize extends about 280 kilometres (170 miles) north to south and about 100 kilometres (62 miles) east to west, with a total land boundary length of 516 kilometres (321 miles). The northern and southern borders are defined by two rivers: the Hondo and the Sarstoon, respectively. The western border, on the other hand, follows no natural features and runs north-south through lowland forest and highland mountainous plateau.

Belize is a small country, with a population of around 397,483 (as of 2022) and an area of 22,966 square kilometres (8,867 square miles). Despite its small size, Belize boasts a diverse landscape, including misty mountains, waterfalls, pristine rivers, savannahs, and jungles teeming with wildlife. The country also has a long coastline along the Caribbean Sea, with hundreds of offshore islands and the second-largest barrier reef in the world.

The northern part of Belize consists mostly of flat wetlands and coastal plains, with heavy forestation in some areas. In contrast, the southern region contains the mountain range of the Maya Mountains, with the highest point in Belize being Doyle's Delight at 1,124 metres (3,688 feet).

Belize's neighbouring countries

Belize is bordered by Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west and south. Belize also shares maritime borders with Honduras to the southeast.

Belize's northern border with Mexico runs for about 155 miles along the course of the Hondo River, acting as a divide between Belize and the Mexican states of Campeche and Quintana Roo. The current border was agreed upon in 1893 and finalised in 1897.

To the west and south, Belize borders Guatemala. The border between the two countries runs for about 165 miles in an almost straight line. The border is described in the 1859 Wyke-Aycinena Treaty, which states that the border begins in the Bay of Honduras at the mouth of the Sarstoon River and goes through the mid-channel to Gracias a Dios Falls. After the falls, the border heads north to the Mexican frontier.

Belize also shares maritime borders with Honduras to the southeast.

Belize's landscape and wildlife

Belize is located in the Northern Hemisphere, on the Caribbean coast of northeastern Central America. It is a small country with a diverse range of ecosystems and habitats, from coastlines and island atolls to tropical jungles and mountain pine forests.

Landscape

Belize's landscape is characterised by heavily forested plains and the Maya Mountains. The country can be divided into four main geographic regions: the northern limestone lowlands, the Maya Mountains in the south, the narrow coastal plain, and the offshore atolls and cayes.

The northern region is distinguished by flat, swampy coastal plains with dense forests. The southern region features the low-lying Maya Mountains, which include the Cockscomb Range, where the country's highest point, Doyle's Delight, is located. The coastline is mostly flat and swampy, with many lagoons, and the offshore cayes and atolls dot the Belize Barrier Reef, the second-longest barrier reef in the world.

Wildlife

Belize is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including rare and unique animals such as the Baird's tapir, also known as the mountain cow, and the kinkajou, a nocturnal relative of the raccoon. Belize also has five native species of wild cats: jaguars, ocelots, jaguarundis, pumas, and margays. The ancient Maya revered the jaguar, and it remains culturally important in Belize. The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in southern Belize is the world's first jaguar reserve.

Belize boasts a remarkable biodiversity, with over 500 bird species, 37 amphibian species, 650 fish species, 148 mammal species, 140 reptile species, and 4,192 vascular plant species. The country's terrestrial realms are home to numerous bird species, mammals such as the peccary, coatimundi, and gibnut, reptiles, and amphibians. The Belize Barrier Reef is also a haven for marine biodiversity, with an array of coral, fish, and other aquatic life.

Belize's population and demographics

Belize is located in the Northern Hemisphere, on the north-eastern 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.

Belize has a population of around 410,990 people, according to the 2022 census. It is the least populated and least densely populated country in Central America, with a population density of 28.8 people per square kilometre. Belize's population growth rate of 1.87% per year is one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere.

Belize is a melting pot of diverse cultures, languages, and ethnicities. The population is predominantly multiracial, with approximately 52.9% identifying as Mestizo-Hispanic/Latino, 25.2% as Creole, 9.8% as Maya, and 4% as Garifuna. Other ethnic groups include East Indians, Europeans, Middle Easterners, North Americans, and Chinese, each contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of Belize.

The country's largest cities include Belize City, San Ignacio, Belmopan, and Orange Walk Town. Belize City, the former capital and principal port, is home to about a quarter of the country's population.

Belize's population is predominantly Christian, with approximately 80% adhering to various denominations. Roman Catholicism is the largest religious group, accounting for 40.1% of the population, followed by various Protestant denominations such as Pentecostals and Adventists. Other religions practised in Belize include Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

Belize has a multilingual population, with over half of its residents speaking more than one language. While English is the official language, Belizean Creole is the most widely spoken dialect and is considered the lingua franca of the nation. Spanish, Mayan languages, Garifuna, and Mennonite dialects are also commonly spoken.

Belize has a relatively young population, with a median age of 23.7 years. The country has a birth rate of 17.8 births per 1,000 people and a death rate of 6.3 deaths per 1,000 people, resulting in a positive population growth rate.

The country's population is distributed across six districts, with the majority living in urban areas. Belize has a high emigration rate, particularly among Creoles and other ethnic groups who migrate to North America and Europe in search of better opportunities. At the same time, Belize has experienced significant immigration from neighbouring Central American countries due to political instability and conflicts.

Belize's history

Belize is located in the Northern Hemisphere, on the northeast coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It is the only Central American country without a coastline on the Pacific Ocean. Belize was known as British Honduras until 1973 and was the last British colony on the American mainland.

Mayan Civilisation and European Contact

The Maya civilisation spread into the area of Belize between 1500 BC and AD 300 and flourished until about 1200. European contact began in 1502-04 when Christopher Columbus sailed along the Gulf of Honduras. The first recorded European incursions in the region were made by Spanish conquistadors and missionaries in the 16th century. The Maya population had already begun to decline before the Spaniards arrived, and the remaining Maya lived in politically decentralised societies. The Spanish tried to convert the Maya to Christianity, but with little success.

British Settlement

British buccaneers and logwood cutters settled on the coast in the mid-17th century. By treaties signed in 1763 and 1783, Spain granted British subjects the privilege of exploiting logwood and mahogany. In 1798, the British defeated the Spanish in the Battle of St. George's Caye, and Belize became a colony in all but name.

Slavery and Emancipation

The British settlers began importing enslaved Africans in the early 18th century to cut logwood and mahogany. There were four revolts by enslaved people in Belize, and many escaped. In 1833, slavery was abolished in the British Empire, and in Belize, owners were compensated at £53.69 per enslaved person on average. However, the end of slavery did little to change the working conditions for those who remained in the timber industry.

Independence

Belize became a British colony in 1840 and a Crown Colony in 1862. In 1950, the People's United Party (PUP) emerged as the dominant political party and led the independence movement. Progress toward independence was hampered by a Guatemalan claim to sovereignty over Belizean territory. In 1964, Britain granted British Honduras self-government under a new constitution, and in 1973, the colony was officially renamed Belize. Belize was granted independence on 21 September 1981. Guatemala refused to recognise the new nation because of its longstanding territorial dispute.

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