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Belize
(formerly British Honduras) lies
on the east coast of Central America ....
 Belize
is bounded on the north and part of the west by Mexico and
on the south and the remainder of the west by Guatemala. Shallow
coastal waters are sheltered by a line of coral reefs, with
many small islands called Cayes ranging in size
from a few hundred feet to 25 miles long and four miles wide; most
of which are located inside the 200 mile Belize Reef.
A low coastal plain, much of it covered with
mangrove swamp, typifies the coastline. Total land area measures
8,866 sq. miles, including 266 sq. miles of islands, roughly
the size of Massachusetts.
The Northern plains, once
under water, are swampy near the coast, then
rise to a slight plateau in the west. Today the terrain
is crisscrossed by waterways and much of the Corozal and Orange
Walk area is heavily cultivated in sugar cane.
Central Belize's sandy
soil supports large savannas. The Rio Bravo Conservation
Area is located here. This area, largely uninhabited, supports
an abundance of wildlife.
Southwest from Belize
City, the land begins to rise gradually towards the interior. Cayo
District, with San Ignacio and Belmopan in the west,
is home to the Mountain Pine Ridge at 305 to 914 meters above
sea level.
The Maya Mountains and
Cockscomb Range form the backbone of the southern
half of the country. Doyles's Delight, located in the Cockscomb
Range is the highest point in Belize at 1124 meters above
sea level.
Southern Belize, with
its watershed to the southeast of the Maya Mountains, consists
of many steep rivers carrying sand, clay, and silt, which have
enriched the coastal belt over the years. This has allowed
the area to develop significant agricultural products such
as citrus and bananas.
Along with an annual rainfall of some 170 inches,
southern Belize has a true tropical rainforest that is rich
with ferns, palms, and tropical hardwoods.
CLIMATE
Belize weather is characterized by two
seasons a rainy and a dry season. Most of
the year's rainfall occurs during the period June to November. Belize annual rainfall ranges from 60
inches in the north to 160 inches in the south.
The onset of the rainy season begins in the early
May in the south, (where the annual rainfall is highest)
progressing north to the Stann Creek, Belize, Cayo and Orange Walk
Districts in late May, followed by Corozal District in early June.
The mean temperature varies from 81°F/ 27°C along the coast to
69°F/21°C in the higher elevations. The coolest month is January while the
highest temperatures are experienced during the months of April and May, just before the start of the rainy season.
More about Belize
- General Information
- People
- Land
- History
- FAQ
Visit Belize as part of a
Rainforest, Ruins & Reef Vacation Package
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