Geography
Belize is an independent state within the Commonwealth of Nations, Central America, on the Caribbean Sea. Belize is bounded on the N by Mexico, on the S and W by Guatemala, and on the E by the Caribbean. The capital is Belmopan. Belize City, the capital until 1970, is the largest city and main port.
Land and People
The land is generally low, with mangrove swamps and cays along the coast, but in the south rises to Victoria Peak (c.3,700 ft/1,128 m high). The climate is subtropical. Although most of the area is heavily forested, yielding mahogany, cedar, and logwood, there are regions of fertile savannas and barren pine ridges.
Besides the capital and Belize City, other important urban areas are Orange Walk, Corozal, and Dangringa.
Although only a small fraction of the land is cultivated, agriculture provides about 75% of Belize's exports, the chief of which are sugar, citrus fruits, and fish. Clothing and woods are also important products and export items, and tourism and construction are increasingly significant to the economy.
Quick Stats
1. Population of Belize: 266,000
2. Capital: Belmopan
3. Literacy: 94%
4. Independence: 1981 September 21
5. Government: Parliamentary democracy
6. Official Language: Engligh
7. Land Area: 8,866 square miles
8. Exchange Rate: BZ$2= US$1,
9. Ethnic groups: Creole, Garifuna, Mestizo, Spanish, Maya, English, Mennonite, Lebanese, Chinese, and East Indian.
10. Climate: Dry season from December through MayRain Season June through November,average temperatures at a pleasant 72 degrees in the dry season and up to 88 degrees in the rainy season.
*Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Copyright (c) 2006.