Independence Day in Belize

People all across BELIZE are celebrating their country's Independence Day today. Belize achieved independence from The United Kingdom in 1981. Happy Independence Day!

Belize Exports

The following produce and materials are major exports of BELIZE: bananas, cacao, citrus fruits, clothing and other textiles, fish and fish products, molasses, petroleum, and timber. According to the International Monetary Fund (data.imf.org), countries and territories buying and importing most of those exports in 2016 include the United States (top importer), the United Kingdom, Jamaica, the Netherlands, Ireland, Trinidad and Tobago, Namibia, Spain, Guatemala, Panama, Honduras, Barbados, Germany, Mexico, Switzerland, Paraguay, China, Japan, Hong Kong, and Guyana.

Countries with Z in their Names

There are sixteen countries with Z in their names. Two countries start with the letter Z: Zambia and Zimbabwe. Other countries with the letter Z in their names are Azerbaijan, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mozambique, New Zealand, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tanzania, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela. Zaire was a former Z country, but that became the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Belize Endangered Species

As of August 25th, 2014, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ lists 10 critically endangered and 32 endangered species in BELIZE, a Central American country famous for its biodiversity, rainforests, and magnificent offshore reefs in the Caribbean Sea. The ten critically endangered species are the Atlantic Goliath Grouper, Black-Eyed Leaf Frog, Central American River Turtle, Elkhorn Coral, Hawksbill Turtle, Largetooth Sawfish, Smalltooth Sawfish, Social Wrasse, Staghorn Coral, and Zamia prasina cycad plants. The Social Wrasse fish is only found in Belize's Pelican Caye World Heritage Site.

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Capital of Belize

The capital of BELIZE is Belmopan, even though Belize City is the largest city population-wise. Visit my Belize post to learn more!

Ancient Ruins to Amazing Reefs in Belize

BELIZE, a relatively underpopulated Central American country bordered by Guatemala to the west and Mexico to the north, possesses nifty sights on land and off shore!

Ancient Ruins
West of the northern Belize town of Orange Walk, Cuello is the site of Mayan ancient ruins and a farming village that dates back to 1200 BC. Another location for amazing ancient ruins is Altun Ha, which is located not too far southeast of Cuello. Altun Ha features a few temple pyramids, the largest of which is Temple of the Masonry Altars standing at 54 feet. Dating as far back to the 730s BC, Lubantuun is another ancient ruins site, but located in the southern part of Belize. It is east of Naj Tunich, a natural cave in Guatemala.

Cays, Islands, and Reefs
Off the coast in the Caribbean Sea lies a scattering of coral reefs, islands, and cays. You probably know this, but cays are sandy, low-lying islands. Islands and cays include Turneffe Islands, Columbus Cay, Hick's Cays, Ambergris Cay, and Pelican Cays, while reefs include Lighthouse Reef and Glover's Reef.

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Belize Barrier Reef

The small, Central American country BELIZE has a grouping of coral reefs known as the Belize Barrier Reef. The coral reefs are located in western Caribbean Sea and north of the Gulf of Honduras. The Inner Channel separates the Belize Barrier Reef from mainland Belize. Towns and cities that are within 20 miles of the coral reefs include Belize City, Dangriga, and Monkey River Town.

Belize

Located in Central America, BELIZE is one of the least-densely populated countries in the world. Belize's bordering countries are Guatemala and Mexico. Belize is known for attempting to protect its offshore coral reefs, boasting biodiverse rainforests, and featuring multiple ancient Maya archaeological sites of interest. The capital is Belmopan, which only has approximately 16,000 residents. The currency is the Belize Dollar, and its ISO 4217 currency code is BZD.