Portal:Belize

Belize (/bɪˈliːz, bɛ-/ ^ⓘ, bih-LEEZ, beh-; Belize Kriol English: Bileez) 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 water boundary with Honduras to the southeast.

The Maya civilization spread into the area of Belize between 1500 BC and AD 300 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 IIIasits monarch and head of state, represented by a governor-general. (Full article...)

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Entrance of the Belize Zoo

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Image 2A view of New River, Belize

Image 3Aerial view of Corozal Town

Image 4A satellite image of Belize, March 2002

Image 5An aerial view of Caye Caulker

Image 6Caye Caulker is located in the beautiful world heritage Belize Barrier Reef

Image 7A view at Laughing Bird Caye

Image 8A collage of San Pedro, Belize

Image 9San Pedro Beach in Ambergris Caye, Belize, 2007

Image 10An aerial view of Belize City

Image 11The New River near its estuary into the Caribbean Sea (Corozal District, Belize)

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  Image 1The 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)
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  Image 2St. Herman's Cave in St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park. (from List of protected areas of Belize)
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  Image 3Half Moon Caye (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 4High Temple at Lamanai (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 5Coral patch in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 6Little Guana Caye plays host to the largest colony of reddish egrets in the Caribbean. (from List of protected areas of Belize)
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  Image 7Thousand Foot Falls actually stand at about 1,600 feet high. It is the highest waterfall in Central America. (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 8The Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Belize. (from Geography of Belize)
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  Image 9Men working in the mahogany industry, around 1930. (from History of Belize)
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  Image 10Overlooking the Caracol ruins, the most extensive archaeological site in the country. (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 11Map of Belize's exclusive economic zone (from Geography of Belize)
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  Image 121831 map of Belize by Daniel Lizars (from History of Belize)
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  Image 13Che Chem Ha Cave (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 14Coral patch in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. (from List of protected areas of Belize)
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  Image 15Köppen climate classification zones of Belize. (from Geography of Belize)
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  Image 16Rio Frio Cave (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 17Wilderness scene in the Bladen Nature Reserve. (from List of protected areas of Belize)
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  Image 18The "Split" at Caye Caulker, Caused by Hurricane Hattie in 1961 (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 19Sapodilla Cayes (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 20High Temple at Altun Ha (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 21Riot police and protesters during the unrest in 2005. (from History of Belize)
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  Image 22Maya Beach, Placencia (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 23St. Herman's Cave in St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park. (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 24Almond Beach, Hopkins (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 25Biodiversity is an asset for ecotourism. A red-lored amazon (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 26Maya fisherwomen in British Honduras, beginning of the 20th century. (from History of Belize)
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  Image 27The flag of British Honduras. (from History of Belize)
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  Image 28Zip-lining in the jungles of Belize (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 29Belize electricity supply by source (from Economy of Belize)
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  Image 301790 map of territory conceded by Spain to British settlers for cutting timber. (from History of Belize)
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  Image 31Big Rock Falls in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. (from List of protected areas of Belize)
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  Image 32St. John's Cathedral (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 33Big Rock Falls in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 34Sarstoon Kekchi Mayan village (from History of Belize)
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  Image 35Overlooking the Caracol ruins, the most extensive archaeological site in the country. (from List of protected areas of Belize)
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  Image 36The flag of Belize, originally adopted in 1922. (from History of Belize)
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  Image 37San Antonio Falls (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 38Beachront of Ramon's Village, San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 39The Great Blue Hole is one of the most recognisable natural features in Belize. (from List of protected areas of Belize)
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  Image 40Wilderness scene in the Bladen Nature Reserve. (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 41Barton Creek Cave (from Tourism in Belize)
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  Image 42Sarteneja (from Tourism in Belize)

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