Belize's Boundaries: Natural And Man-Made

Belize is a small Central American country with a mix of land and maritime borders. To the north, Belize shares a land border with the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, and to the west and south, it borders the Guatemalan departments of El Petén and Izabal. The Hondo and Sarstoon rivers define much of the country's northern and southern boundaries, respectively. Belize also has a maritime border with Honduras to the southeast.

Guatemala has a long-standing territorial dispute with Belize, claiming sovereignty over all or part of its territory based on old Spanish treaties. Despite this, Belize achieved independence from the UK in 1981 and is now a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Belize's northern boundary is shared with Mexico

Belize shares its northern border with Mexico. The border is 250km (160mi) long and follows the course of the Hondo River. The modern boundary was agreed upon in 1893 and finalized in 1897. The border separates Belize from the Mexican state of Quintana Roo.

The border between Mexico and Belize was difficult to explore due to its remote location and sparse population. This allowed the British colony of British Honduras, now Belize, to occupy the region. However, Mexico did not recognize British possession of the territory until the late nineteenth century.

The border starts at Boca Bacalar Chico, a narrow channel that separates the southern tip of the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and Ambergris Caye. It then runs through Chetumal Bay in a broken line up to the mouth of the Hondo River. The Hondo River forms the border between the two nations for most of its length.

There are two official crossings at the border with international bridges. The first is located between Subteniente Lopez, Quintana Roo, Mexico, and Santa Elena, Corozal District, Belize. The second is located between La Union, Quintana Roo, and Blue Creek Village, Orange Walk.

The Hondo River marks the border with Mexico

Belize is a country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It shares land and sea borders with Mexico to the north, a sea border with Honduras to the southeast, and land borders with Guatemala to the west and south. The Hondo River, or Río Hondo, forms the majority of the international border between Belize and Mexico.

The Hondo River is approximately 150 kilometres (93 miles) long and flows in a northeasterly direction into the Caribbean Sea. The river is formed from the confluence of several upper tributaries, including Blue Creek and Chan Chich (Rio Bravo), which originate in Guatemala's Petén Basin region, and Booth's River, which begins in the western Belizean district of Orange Walk. These tributaries meet near the settlements of Blue Creek Village in Belize and La Unión in Mexico, forming the Hondo River. The river then continues its northeastern course, with few settlements along its length, until it reaches Chetumal Bay. Chetumal, the capital of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, is located near the river's outlet.

The Hondo River was finalised as the border between Belize and Mexico in 1897. The Hondo River and the Sarstoon River define much of Belize's northern and southern boundaries, respectively. The Hondo River is also mentioned in a stanza of Belize's national anthem, "Land of the Free":

> "From proud Rio Hondo to old Sarstoon,

> Through coral isle, over blue lagoon;"

The Hondo River is an important natural feature that shapes the border between Belize and Mexico, contributing to the unique geography and history of the region.

Belize's southern boundary is shared with Guatemala

Belize shares its southern boundary with Guatemala, which has disputed this border since its independence in the 19th century. The border dispute stems from colonial documents, first between the United Kingdom and Spain, and later between the United Kingdom, on behalf of British Honduras (now Belize), and independent Guatemala. The de facto boundary, disputed by Guatemala, is based on the Wyke-Aycinena Treaty of 1859 and a 1931 Exchange of Notes. The 1859 treaty established the boundary as beginning at the mouth of the River Sarstoon in the Bay of Honduras, following the river to Gracias á Dios Falls, and then turning north until it reaches the Mexican frontier.

Guatemala's claim to Belizean territory has varied over time, and currently, it seems to consider all of Belize as disputed territory. Guatemala's claim stems from a pre-independence 1786 Convention, which places a vague historic boundary in the Sibun River, located north of the current border. The Belize–Guatemala border is an almost straight line 266 km (165 mi) long, separating the west of Belize's territory from Guatemala.

The border dispute has been ongoing for centuries, with intermittent flare-ups of tension. In the 20th century, Guatemala and British Honduras exchanged a series of notes in 1931, confirming concrete markers that implemented part of the 1859 border lines. However, less than a decade later, Guatemala renewed its claims on the area. In the following decades, there were negotiations and troop deployments on both sides, with Britain seeking to secure the region against Guatemalan invasion. Despite these tensions, the border dispute quietened after Belize gained independence in 1981, which Guatemala recognised in the early 1990s.

In 1999, Guatemala shifted its stance back to inheriting claims from the Spanish Empire and the Federal Republic of Central America, and both countries stationed troops at the border. In 2008, Belize and Guatemala agreed to hold simultaneous referendums to send the issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The referendums passed in both countries, and as of 2022, both nations have submitted their initial briefs to the ICJ. The court is not expected to rule until 2025 at the earliest.

The Sarstoon River defines most of the southern border with Guatemala

Belize is a country on the northeastern 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. The Sarstoon River defines most of the southern border with Guatemala.

The Sarstoon River is a Central American river that forms part of the international border between Belize and Guatemala. The source of the 111-kilometer-long river lies in Guatemala's Alta Verapaz Department. It flows eastward, serving as the border between the departments of Petén and Izabal before passing between Belize's Toledo District and Guatemala's Izabal Department on its way to the Caribbean Sea. The Sarstoon River is the internationally accepted southern border between Belize and Guatemala, although Guatemala has disputed this border since its independence in the 19th century.

The de facto boundary, disputed by Guatemala, is based on an 1859 Convention and a 1931 Exchange of Notes and follows the Sarstoon River and then a series of straight lines to the tripoint with Mexico. 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 to the north of the Sarstoon River.

The Sarstoon River has been the site of several border incidents between Belize and Guatemala. In 2019, three Guatemalan gunboats crewed by armed soldiers prevented the Belizean coast guard from patrolling the river. In 2022, a joint Belize Defence Force and Belize National Coast Guard patrol encountered five Guatemalan Armed Forces maritime vessels on the northern side of the Sarstoon River. These incidents reflect the ongoing territorial dispute between the two countries, which dates back to colonial documents from the 19th century.

In addition to the Sarstoon River, the Belizean–Guatemalan border also includes a western segment that runs through lowland forest and highland mountainous plateau. This western border follows no natural features and is officially known as the adjacency line between the two countries. Despite the ongoing dispute, the Sarstoon River remains a critical geographic feature that defines the southern border between Belize and Guatemala.

Belize shares a water boundary with Honduras

Belize is a small Central American country with a land area of 21,400 square kilometres (8,263 sq mi) and a population of 361,000–410,990. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a water boundary with Honduras to the southeast.

Belize's landscape is divided into a variety of natural regions, including the low mountain range of the Maya Mountains and the northern lowlands drained by 18 major rivers and streams. The country's highest peak is Doyle's Delight at 1,124 m (3,688 ft). The Belize River is the country's largest river and was historically its main artery of commerce and communication.

Belize's total land boundary length is 516 kilometres (321 mi). The Hondo River marks its border with Mexico in the north, while the Sarstoon River defines most of its southern border with Guatemala. The western border with Guatemala runs through lowland forest and highland plateau and follows no natural features.

Belize has a tropical climate with a rainy season from June to November and a dry season from January to May. The temperature ranges from 24 °C (75 °F) in January to 27 °C (81 °F) in July, with slightly higher temperatures inland. The country is prone to hurricanes, especially in the late Atlantic hurricane season from September to December.

Belize is a melting pot of cultures and languages, with English as the official language. The country has a diverse society composed of many cultures, including Creole, Mestizo, Garifuna, Maya, East Indian, Chinese, Arab, and European.

Frequently asked questions