Belize's Bordering Neighbours: A Look At The Country's Geographic Boundaries

Belize is a country located 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. Belize has a diverse population, with people of Mayan, Mestizo, Garifuna, Creole, Mennonite, East Indian, and Chinese descent. The country has a rich history, having been a British colony known as British Honduras until it gained independence in 1981. With its lush jungles, ancient Maya sites, and the world's second-largest barrier reef, Belize is a popular tourist destination known for its natural beauty and cultural attractions.

Mexico to the north

Belize is bordered by Mexico to the north, with the Mexican state of Quintana Roo sharing a land and sea border with the country. Belize is located on the Caribbean coast of northern Central America, and Mexico sits directly to its north. The country has a total land boundary length of 516 kilometres (321 miles), with the courses of two rivers, the Hondo and the Sarstoon, defining much of its northern and southern boundaries.

The northern part of Belize is made up of flat wetlands and coastal plains, with heavy forestation in some areas. The Hondo River, which forms the northern frontier with Mexico, drains into the north, flowing into Chetumal Bay. The country's northern areas are also drained by the Belize River, on which stands Belize City, and the New River.

Belize is the only Central American country with no coastline on the North Pacific Ocean. However, it does have a coastline on the Caribbean Sea, which forms its eastern border.

Mexico recognised Belize's independence in 1893, having previously laid claim to the territory. However, Belize faced a longer-standing territorial dispute with neighbouring Guatemala, which refused to recognise its independence until 1992. In 2022, both countries submitted initial briefs to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to settle the ongoing dispute.

Guatemala to the west and south

Belize is bordered by Guatemala to the west and south. The border between the two countries is a centuries-old colonial legacy, and Guatemala has a long-standing territorial claim over Belize. The border dispute remains unresolved, despite both countries agreeing to submit the issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for arbitration in 2008.

The border between Belize and Guatemala is an imaginary line that runs north-south through lowland forest and a highland mountainous plateau. The Guatemalan departments of El Petén and Izabal border Belize to the west and south, respectively. The adjacency zone between the two countries is administered by the Organisation of American States (OAS).

Guatemala's claim to Belizean territory involves approximately 53% of Belize's mainland, including significant portions of four districts: Belize, Cayo, Stann Creek, and Toledo. This region is home to roughly 43% of Belize's population.

The border dispute between Belize and Guatemala has a long history. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the British and Spanish disputed the region, and it formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1862. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed Belize's independence until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognise Belize as a sovereign nation until 1992, and the two countries continue to work towards resolving their differences.

Caribbean Sea to the east

Belize is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the east. The country has a 174-mile (280km) coastline, which is lined with a coral reef and some 450 islets and islands known as cayes. The Belize Barrier Reef is the second-largest barrier reef in the world and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996.

The Belize Barrier Reef is a series of coral reefs that run for 300km (190 miles) and is part of the 900km (560-mile) Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. It is the top tourist destination in Belize, attracting almost half of its 260,000 visitors. It is also vital to the fishing industry. The reef is home to a large variety of plant and animal life, including 70 hard coral species, 36 soft coral species, and hundreds of invertebrate species.

The Belize Barrier Reef is under threat from oceanic pollution, uncontrolled tourism, shipping, and fishing. Other threats include hurricanes, global warming, and coral bleaching. It is claimed that over 40% of Belize's coral reef has been damaged since 1998.

Belize is also home to three of the four coral atolls in the Western Hemisphere. One of the natural wonders of the world, the Great Blue Hole, is located here.

Honduras to the southeast

Belize is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the east and shares a water boundary with Honduras to the southeast. The country is located on the Caribbean coast of northern Central America, south of the Yucatán Peninsula.

Belize is bordered by Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The country has a diverse geography, with mountains, swamps, and tropical jungles. The northern part of Belize consists mostly of flat wetlands and coastal plains, while the south is home to the rugged Maya Mountains.

The Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest barrier reef in the world, flanks the country's coastline, providing a habitat for a diverse range of marine life. The country also has three of the four coral atolls found in the Western Hemisphere.

Belize has a small population of about 397,483 people (as of 2022) and is known for its cultural and biological diversity. The country gained independence from the United Kingdom on September 21, 1981, and has since cultivated relations with Latin America and the United States while maintaining strong ties with Britain.

Belize faces challenges such as violent crime, drug trafficking, and border disputes with neighbouring countries, but it also boasts a thriving tourism industry that showcases its natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Belize is bordered by three countries and the Caribbean Sea

Belize is located on the Caribbean coast of Central America, south of the Yucatán Peninsula. It is the only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean. The country has a diverse landscape, ranging from flat, swampy coastal plains in the north to the rugged Maya Mountains in the south. The Belize River, the New River, and the Hondo River (which forms the northern border with Mexico) drain the lowlands, while the coastline is lined with the Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest barrier reef in the world.

Belize has a small population of approximately 430,000 people, with over half living in rural areas. The country is ethnically diverse, with people of Maya, Mestizo, Garinagu, Creole, Mennonite, East Indian, and Chinese descent. English is the official language, but other commonly spoken languages include Spanish, Creole, Maya, and Garifuna.

Belize has a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy, with King Charles III as the head of state, represented by a governor-general. The country gained independence from the United Kingdom on September 21, 1981, becoming the last British colony on the American mainland. However, it still maintains strong ties with the UK and is a member of the Commonwealth.

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