Belize Geography

What is the terrain and geography like in Belize?

Overview

Belize is located along Central America’s eastern coast, bordered to the north by Mexico, to the west and south by Guatemala, and to the east by the Caribbean Sea. It measures 175 miles north to south and 69 miles across at its widest point.

The savannas of northern Belize are flat and dry compared to the rest of the country (receiving only 50 inches of rain a year). The primary source of income for the predominantly Mestizo population there is sugarcane. South and westward, the hilly inland terrain is more forested, including some remaining stands of mahogany. Next is the Mountain Pine Ridge range, with pine-covered peaks of over 3,000 feet that enjoy cool nights year-round. To the south are citrus plantations, fishing, and rainforests where the annual rainfall increases to 120 inches. The Mayan Indian and Garifuna inhabitants subsist primarily upon small-scale farming and fishing.

Much of the coastline consists of either dense growths of mangrove habitats, or broken low-lying and narrow sandy shoreline. Belize City itself rests upon a filled mangrove forest, with an elevation that is actually a foot below sea level.

The central Belize District is the most populated of six and is predominantly Creole. Economic activity centers around commerce and some light manufacturing.

Belize’s barrier reef is the second largest in the world, running some 150 miles, nearly the entire length of the coast, featuring three of the Caribbean’s four atolls. Small islands or cayes (pronounced keys) abound in the crystal-clear waters of the reefs.

Geography - note

The only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

Belize Use of Natural Resources

Geographic Location	Central America
Total Area	8,867 Square Miles 22,966 Square Kilometers
Land Area	8,805 Square Miles 22,806 Square Kilometers
Water Area	62 Square Miles 160 Square Kilometers
Land Boundaries	321 Miles 516 Kilometers
Irrigated Land	12 Square Miles 30 Square Kilometers
Border Countries	Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Coastline	240 Miles 386 Kilometers
Geographic Coordinates	17 15 N, 88 45 W
Terrain	Flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in the south
Highest Point	1,160 Meters
Highest Point Location	Victoria Peak 1,160 m
Lowest Point Location	Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural Resources	Arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Time Zone	UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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