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National Flag
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Airport
Philip SW Goldson International (BZE) | Annual Rainfall
50 inches | Area
8867 sq miles
| Area Code
501 | Banks
Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 1:00 pm/Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
| Capital City
Belmopan
| Co-ordinates
15 52'N, 87 28'W | Currency
Belize Dollar (BZ$)/US$ & credit cards widely accepted
| Departure Tax
US$35 payable in US$
| Dimensions
185 miles x 69 miles
| Dress
Casual cotton
| Driving
On the right, temporary or international license required
| Electricity
110 volts, 60 cycle
| Exchange Rate
BZ$2.00 - US$1.00
| Highest Point
Doyles Delight (3680 feet)
| Language
English | Medical
Emergency phone 911
| Population
288 000 | Public Transport
Bus, plane for longer journeys
| Shopping
Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 12:00 pm/1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
| Taxis
Green number plates ensure good visibility, fixed fares, agree prior to
departure
| Telecommunications
Phone cards, internet access, cellular rentals
| Temperature
Average 79F | Time
US Central Standard | Tipping
10% usually included
| Water
Potable in most areas, bottled widely available
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History
Amerindians were the original inhabitants of Belize, and these were followed by the Maya civilization from around 1500 BC to about 900 AD. Trips to Mayan ruins in the interior are popular. The first European settlers were British Jews, privateers and seamen around 1638. The origin of the name Belize is unclear, but a possibility is the Maya word belix¯, meaning "muddy water". The settlement of Belize also seems a bit uncertain. One story goes that some African slaves rebelled against their ship board captors and sailed to Belize, where they settled. Another account is that a few British people settled at Belize Town and St George's Caye during the late 18th century. In the early 19th century the settlement was called British Honduras, and in 1871 it became a Crown Colony. Timber fueled the early economy, with logwood and mahogany being the main exports into the 1900s. Timber was followed by crops such as citrus, sugar cane and bananas. A new capital, Belmopan, was created in 1970. British Honduras became a self-governing colony in 1964, and was renamed "Belize" on June 1 1973. Full independence was achieved on 21st September 1981. Border disputes with Guatemala remain unresolved.
Geography
Belize is located in Central America. The country is bounded by Mexico in the north by Mexico, Guatemala to the south and west, and the Caribbean Sea along its 174 mile coastline to the east. The cayes (pronounced keys), the offshore atolls, and the barrier reef are the main attractions to Belize. An eco tourist's paradise, Belize is peaceful, with superb hiking and diving, expeditions to Mayan ruins and the rainforest - 40% of the country is designated as parks and nature reserves and the country also boasts the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere at 185-miles. The cayes are islands located between the mainland and the barrier reef or on the barrier reef. The uninhabited mangrove cayes provide habitat for birds and marine life. The island cayes are home to many fine resorts that serve scuba diving enthusiasts and marine naturalists. Scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, boating, sailing, kiteboarding, and sea kayaking are at their best in Belize. The northern half of mainland Belize is a plain that was once the bed of the sea. The land is covered with a thin layer of soil that supports scrub vegetation and dense hardwood tropical forest. The coastal areas tend to be swampy. Central Belize tends to be sand, supporting savannahs. Inland, the land rises dramatically to between 1500 and 3680 feet above sea level, forming the Mountain Pine Ridge Area and the Maya Mountains. Rainfall is heavy and there are many streams flowing into the Macal River. The Macal River and the Mopan River eventually converge to provide the headwaters of the Belize River. Southern Belize has tropical rainforest rich with ferns, palms, lianas and tropical hardwoods.
Economy
According to the CIA World Factbook, Belize has the highest unemployment rate in Central America at 9.4%. The economy is based primarily on agriculture and tourism. Sugar makes up nearly half of exports, while the banana industry is the largest employer. Citrus is also a major industry.
Religion
Belize is predominantly Christian, with 49.6% Roman Catholic and 27% Protestant. The remaining population is made up of Jehovahs Witnesses, Taoists, Buddhists, Jainism, Islam, Bahai and Hindu.
Language
English is the official language of Belize, but many locals speak Belize Kriol, and Spanish is a second language. Ancient Maya dialects are still used, primarily Garifuna (Arawak based) and the Plautdietsch dialect of the Mennonites. Literacy is around 80%.
Sport
Belize is well known for its hiking, deep sea fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling.
Entry Requirements
Visitors to Belize require a valid passport. Nationals of Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, United States, Venezuela, CARICOM member states and nationals of European Community countries do not require visas. Belize has regular scheduled air service from North American, Europe, and Central and South America. |
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