GEOGRAPHY
Belize is situated at the
base of the Yucatan Peninsula in Central America and borders Mexico
and Guatemala, with the Caribbean Sea to the east. The country’s
area includes numerous small islands (Cayes) off the coast. The
coastal strip is low and swampy, particularly in the north, with
mangroves, many salt and freshwater lagoons and some sandy beaches
crossed by a number of rivers. To the south and west rises the
heavily forested Maya mountain range, with the Cockscomb range
to the east and the Mountain Pine Ridge in the west. More than
65 per cent of the area of the country is forested. The land to
the west along the borders with Guatemala is open and relatively
scenic compared to much of the interior. The shallow offshore
Cayes straddle a coral reef second only in size to the Great Barrier
Reef of Australia.
Official
Name: Belize
Area: 22,923 sq. km. (8,867 sq. mi.); slightly
larger than Massachusetts.
Cities: Capital--Belmopan (2000 pop. est. 8,305)
Other cities and towns--Belize City (54,125), Corozal (8,075),
Orange Walk (13,795), San Ignacio & Santa Elena (13,545),
Dangriga (9.020), Punta Gorda (4,425) and San Pedro (4,965).
Terrain: Flat and swampy coastline, low mountains
in interior.
Climate: Subtropical (dry and wet seasons). Hot
and humid. Rainfall ranges from 60 inches in the north to 200
inches in the south annually.
