Portal:Belize

Belize
Belize
	Flag Coat of arms
	Motto: "Sub Umbra Floreo" (Latin); "Under the shade I flourish"
	Anthem: "Land of the Free";
ISO 3166 code	BZ

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The Belize Portal

Belize is a country on the north-eastern 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. It also shares a maritime boundary with Honduras to the southeast. Part of the Caribbean region, Belize is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Commonwealth Caribbean, the historical British West Indies.

The Maya civilization spread into the area of Belize between 1500 BCE and 300 CE and flourished until about 1200. European contact began in 1502–04 when Christopher Columbus sailed along the Gulf of Honduras. European exploration was begun by English settlers in 1638. Spain and Britain both laid claim to the land until Britain defeated the Spanish in the Battle of St. George's Caye (1798). It became a British colony in 1840, and a Crown colony in 1862. Belize achieved its independence from the United Kingdom on 21 September 1981. It is the only mainland Central American country which is a Commonwealth realm, with King Charles III as its monarch and head of state, represented by a governor-general. (Full article...)

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The Great Blue Hole

The Great Blue Hole is a large marine sinkhole off the coast of Belize. It lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef, a small atoll 70 km (43 mi) from the mainland and Belize City. The hole is circular in shape, 318 m (1,043 ft) across and 124 m (407 ft) deep. It has a surface area of 70,650 square metres (760,500 sq ft). It was formed during several phases of the Quaternary glaciation when sea levels were much lower. Analysis of stalactites found in the Great Blue Hole shows that formation took place 153,000, 66,000, 60,000, and 15,000 years ago. As the ocean began to rise again, the cave was flooded. The Great Blue Hole is a part of the larger Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Full article...)

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Image 1A satellite image of Belize, March 2002
Image 2A collage of San Pedro, Belize
Image 3Caye Caulker is located in the beautiful world heritage Belize Barrier Reef
Image 4An aerial view of Belize City
Image 5A view at Laughing Bird Caye
Image 6A view of New River, Belize
Image 7A view of Orange Walk Town
Image 8San Pedro Beach in Ambergris Caye, Belize, 2007
Image 9An aerial view of Caye Caulker
Image 10The New River near its estuary into the Caribbean Sea (Corozal District, Belize)
Image 11Aerial view of Corozal Town

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The following are images from various Belize-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Sapodilla Cayes (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 2The Great Blue Hole is one of the most recognisable natural features in Belize. (from List of protected areas of Belize)
Image 3Maya fisherwomen in British Honduras, beginning of the 20th century. (from History of Belize)
Image 4Che Chem Ha Cave (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 5The Great Blue Hole is a prime ecotourism destination. A World Heritage Site, ranked among the top 10 nominees for the world's New 7 Wonders of Nature. (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 6Coral patch in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. (from List of protected areas of Belize)
Image 7Sarstoon Kekchi Mayan village (from History of Belize)
Image 8Belize electricity supply by source (from Economy of Belize)
Image 9The "Split" at Caye Caulker, Caused by Hurricane Hattie in 1961 (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 10Men working in the mahogany industry, around 1930. (from History of Belize)
Image 11Coral patch in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 121831 map of Belize by Daniel Lizars (from History of Belize)
Image 13The flag of Belize, originally adopted in 1922. (from History of Belize)
Image 14Riot police and protesters during the unrest in 2005. (from History of Belize)
Image 15St. John's Cathedral (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 16Zip-lining in the jungles of Belize (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 17Barton Creek Cave (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 18Wilderness scene in the Bladen Nature Reserve. (from List of protected areas of Belize)
Image 19Maya Beach, Placencia (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 20Almond Beach, Hopkins (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 21High Temple at Altun Ha (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 22Beachront of Ramon's Village, San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 23San Antonio Falls (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 24High Temple at Lamanai (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 25Overlooking the Caracol ruins, the most extensive archaeological site in the country. (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 26Wilderness scene in the Bladen Nature Reserve. (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 27St. Herman's Cave in St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park. (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 28St. Herman's Cave in St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park. (from List of protected areas of Belize)
Image 29The Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Belize. (from Geography of Belize)
Image 30Köppen climate classification zones of Belize. (from Geography of Belize)
Image 31Biodiversity is an asset for ecotourism. A red-lored amazon (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 32Little Guana Caye plays host to the largest colony of reddish egrets in the Caribbean. (from List of protected areas of Belize)
Image 33Big Rock Falls in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. (from List of protected areas of Belize)
Image 34Overlooking the Caracol ruins, the most extensive archaeological site in the country. (from List of protected areas of Belize)
Image 35Topography of Belize (from Geography of Belize)
Image 36Sarteneja (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 371790 map of territory conceded by Spain to British settlers for cutting timber. (from History of Belize)
Image 38Big Rock Falls in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 39The flag of British Honduras. (from History of Belize)
Image 40Rio Frio Cave (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 41Thousand Foot Falls actually stand at about 1,600 feet high. It is the highest waterfall in Central America. (from Tourism in Belize)
Image 42Map of Belize's exclusive economic zone (from Geography of Belize)
Image 43Half Moon Caye (from Tourism in Belize)