Belize is a small country located on the Caribbean coast of Central America, just below the Yucatan Peninsula. It is bordered by Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west and south. With an area of 22,966 sq km (8,867 sq mi), Belize is slightly smaller than Massachusetts and extends 280 km (174 mi) from north to south and 109 km (68 mi) from east to west. The country is home to a diverse range of landscapes, from flat, swampy coastal plains in the north to the mountain range of the Maya Mountains in the south. Belize is known for its abundant natural resources, including the world's second-largest barrier reef, hundreds of islands, and a rich variety of wildlife. With a population of just under 400,000, Belize is a melting pot of cultures, including Creole, Mestizo, Garifuna, Maya, and East Indian communities.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Area | 22,966 sq km (8,867 sq mi) |
Greatest length | 280 km (174 mi) |
Greatest width | 109 km (68 mi) |
Total boundary length | 516 km (320 mi) |
Population | 397,483 (2022) |
Capital | Belmopan |
Official language | English |
Highest point | Doyle's Delight (1,124 m or 3,688 ft) |
What You'll Learn
Belize is located on the Caribbean coast of Central America
Belize is a small country located on the Caribbean coast of Central America, just below the Yucatan Peninsula. It is bordered by Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west and south, with Honduras to the southeast. With a population of just over 300,000, Belize is the second smallest country in Central America and the least populated and least densely populated country in the region.
Belize has a land area of 22,966 sq km (8,867 sq mi), extending 280 km (174 mi) from north to south and 109 km (68 mi) from west to east. The country's greatest length from north to south is 280 km, and its greatest width is 109 km. The land mass of Belize totals just 8,867 sq miles, but within its borders are some 185 miles of coastline, over 200 islands or cayes, thousands of acres of rainforest, mountains, mangroves, numerous rivers, waterfalls, caves, and the world's second-largest barrier reef.
Belize is a true melting pot, with a multicultural society comprising Creole, Mestizos, Garifuna, Maya, and refugees from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador all living together peacefully. English is the official language of Belize, but Spanish, Mayan languages, German dialects, and Garifuna are also commonly spoken, with over half the population being multilingual.
Belize has a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. Temperatures vary according to elevation and proximity to the coast, with coastal regions ranging from 24°C (75.2°F) in January to 27°C (80.6°F) in July. The seasons are marked more by differences in humidity and rainfall than temperature, with rainfall varying from 1,350 mm in the north and west to over 4,500 mm in the extreme south.
Belize's rugged geography, diverse ecosystems, and natural wonders, including the Great Blue Hole, make it a popular destination for tourists seeking nature and eco-tourism experiences.
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Belize is bordered by Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west and south
Belize is a small country with a population of just over 300,000, making it the second-smallest country in Central America. Despite its size, Belize is remarkably diverse, with a mix of cultures and languages. The country is home to Creole, Mestizos, Garifuna, Maya, and refugees from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, all living together peacefully.
Belize's landscape varies from flat, swampy coastal plains in the north to the Maya Mountains in the south. The country is home to thousands of acres of rainforest, mountains, mangroves, rivers, waterfalls, caves, and the world's second-largest barrier reef. The Belize Barrier Reef runs the length of the country and is a popular destination for scuba diving and snorkelling.
Belize's capital, Belmopan, is located in the centre of the country. The country is divided into six districts: Corozal, Orange Walk, Belize, Cayo, Stann Creek, and Toledo. Each district has its own unique culture and attractions, making Belize a fascinating country to explore.
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Belize is about 280km long and 109km wide
Belize is a small country located on the Caribbean coast of Central America, just below the Yucatan Peninsula. It is bordered by Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the south and west. With an area of 22,966 sq km (8,867 sq mi), Belize is about 280km long and 109km wide. To put that into context, Belize is slightly smaller than the US state of Massachusetts.
Belize's landscape is diverse, ranging from flat, swampy coastal plains in the north to the mountain range of the Maya Mountains in the south. The country is home to hundreds of islands, known locally as cayes, which are covered with stands of mangrove trees. The Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest in the world, runs along the coast for about 180 miles.
Belize has a small population of just over 300,000 people, making it the second-smallest country in Central America. The capital, Belmopan, is located in the centre of the country. The largest city, Belize City, has a population of about 70,000.
Belize's society is multicultural, with Creole, Mestizos, Garifuna, Maya, and refugees from neighbouring countries all living together peacefully. English is the official language, but Spanish, Creole, Mayan languages, and Garifuna are also widely spoken.
Belize has a rich history, dating back to the Maya civilisation, which flourished in the region from 1500 BC to about 1200 AD. European contact began in the early 16th century, and the country gained independence from the UK in 1981.
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Belize has a population of around 397,483
Belize is a small country with a population of around 397,483 people. It is located on the Caribbean coast of Central America, with a land mass of 8,867 square miles. Belize is situated on the Yucatán Peninsula, with Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a water boundary with Honduras to the southeast.
Belize is a diverse country, with a multicultural society composed of many cultures and languages. The official language is English, but Belizean Creole, Spanish, Mayan languages, German dialects, and Garifuna are also widely spoken. Belize is the only Central American country where English is the official language.
The population of Belize is sparse, with just over 300,000 people. Despite this, Belizean society is multicultural, with Creole, Mestizos, Garifuna, Maya, and refugees from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador all living together peacefully. Belize has a population growth rate of 1.87% per year, one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere.
Belize has a varied geography, with a mix of flat, swampy coastal plains in the north and mountain ranges, such as the Maya Mountains, in the south. The country is home to thousands of acres of rainforest, mountains, mangroves, rivers, waterfalls, caves, and the world's second-largest barrier reef.
Belize has a land boundary length of 320 miles and extends 174 miles from north to south and 68 miles from east to west. The country's greatest length from north to south is 280 kilometers, and its greatest width is 109 kilometers.
Belize is a small but diverse country with a rich culture and history. Its population of around 397,483 people makes it the least populated and least densely populated country in Central America.
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Belize is home to the world's second-largest barrier reef
Belize, formerly known as British Honduras, is a small country located on the northeastern coast of Central America. It has a total area of 22,966 sq km (8,867 sq mi), extending approximately 280 km (174 mi) from north to south and 109 km (68 mi) from west to east. Within its borders, Belize boasts a diverse landscape that includes coastline, islands, rainforests, mountains, mangroves, rivers, waterfalls, caves, and the world's second-largest barrier reef.
The Belize Barrier Reef is a 300-kilometre-long (190 mi) section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which stretches from Cancún on the northeastern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula down to Honduras. This vast reef system is the second largest in the world, only surpassed by Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The Belize Barrier Reef runs parallel to Belize's coastline, lying roughly 300 metres (980 ft) offshore in the north and extending up to 40 kilometres (25 mi) in the south.
The reef is comprised of a diverse array of ecosystems, including coral reefs, offshore atolls, sand cays, mangrove forests, coastal lagoons, and estuaries. It is home to a wide variety of marine life, such as sea turtles, rays, eels, nurse sharks, goliath groupers, dolphins, and manatees. The Belize Barrier Reef also plays a crucial role in protecting the coastline from the damaging effects of wave action, tropical storms, and hurricanes.
Recognising the significance of this natural wonder, Belize has taken several measures to protect the reef. In 1996, the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, which includes seven marine reserves, 450 cayes, and three atolls, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This reserve system covers an area of 960 square kilometres (370 sq mi) and aims to safeguard the reef's biodiversity. Additionally, Belize became the first country to completely ban bottom trawling in 2010 and implemented a ban on offshore oil drilling within 1 km of the reef in 2015.
Despite these conservation efforts, the Belize Barrier Reef still faces threats such as oceanic pollution, uncontrolled tourism, shipping, and fishing. Climate change, leading to coral bleaching, and natural disasters like hurricanes, also pose significant challenges to the health of the reef. Nevertheless, the Belize Barrier Reef remains a testament to the country's natural beauty and a popular destination for tourists seeking to explore its vibrant underwater world.
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Frequently asked questions
The length of Belize is 280km (174mi).
The width of Belize is 109km (68mi).
The area of Belize is 22,966 sq km (8,867 sq mi).