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Belize is a Central American country located on the northeastern coast, bordered by Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, with the Caribbean Sea to its east. It holds significance as a member of the Caribbean Community and Commonwealth Caribbean, reflecting its historical ties to the British West Indies.
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Country
- Capital
- Belmopan
- Population
- 417,634
- Region
Travel guide
Understand
Belize, formerly British Honduras, is the only country in Central America without a coastline on the Pacific Ocean (only the Caribbean Sea to its east). With its British colonial history and a long Caribbean coast, it's culturally similar to many of Britain's former West Indian island colonies, with a majority creole or Afro-Caribbean population. But it also includes a large native Mayan population, especially in the north and northwest of the country. As a result, although English is the official language, Spanish is also often spoken. In the south east along the Caribbean coast live the Garifuna (Black Caribs), an Afro-Amerindian culture.
After long journeys starting in what is now the Netherlands in 1790, via Germany, Southern Russia, Canada, the United States, and Mexico, several thousand German-speaking Mennonite Christians arrived in Belize in 1958 after long and detailed discussions with the government regarding specific exemptions and privileges. They are easily recognizable by their speech (somewhat distinctive from modern standard German) and "quaint" dress.
Marine tourism is the cornerstone of Belize's economy, driven primarily by the Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest coral reef system in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Key local marine attractions are primarily accessed via the Northern Cayes or the Southern Peninsula.
Get in
thumb|450px|Visa free entry = countries marked in blue
Get around
thumb|The Hummingbird Highway Belize is a fairly small country, and transportation between most destinations is rarely long or tedious.
See
thumb|St.John's cathedral in Belize City The Belize Barrier Reef is a scuba diving paradise, rich in aquatic life including colorful tropical fish, rays, and sharks (along with a couple of shipwrecks). The reef stretches along the whole coast of Belize. It is part of the Great Mesoamerican Reef System, often called the Mayan Reef, which stretches north to the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and south along the coasts of Guatemala and Honduras. Numerous dive shops in coastal towns can arrange escursions to dive sites on the reef. Mayan archaeological sites in Belize tend to be less crowded than the well-known sites in neighboring Mexico and Guatemala, but the smaller crowds make the sites more tranquil and easier to explore. Some of the sites are among the oldest of the Maya civilization. Significant sites include: Lamanai - one of the oldest Mayan cities, established around 1600 B.C., much of the ruins seen today were built in the late Pre-Classic period (arouind 400 BC to 100 AD). Unlike many Mayan cities, it was not abandoned in the 10th century AD, nor in the period following the Spanish conquest or the British occupation, and continued to be occupied by the Maya up to the 20th century. Xunantunich - large site in Western Belize on the Mopan River near the Guatemala border. The site is known for its myriad plazas and temples and a 133 meter tall pyramid (second highest in Belize). Altun Ha - was a ceremonial site constructed in the Pre-Classic era with the oldest st…
Article · العربية
بليز (بالإنجليزية: Belize)، (بالإسبانية: Belice) وهندوراس البريطانية سابقًا، هي دولة ذات نظام ملكي دستوري في شمال أمريكا الوسطى. تمتلك بليز مجتمعًا متنوعًا يضم العديد من الثقافات واللغات. على الرغم من استخدام غالبية السكان للغة الإسبانية والكريول إلا أن بليز هي الدولة الوحيدة في أمريكا الوسطى حيث اللغة الإنجليزية هي اللغة الرسمية. يحد بليز من الشمال المكسيك ومن الجنوب والغرب غواتيمالا وإلى الشرق البحر الكاريبي. يبلغ طول البر الرئيسي لبليز حوالي 290 كم و110 كم عرضًا. تبلغ مساحة البلاد 22,960 كيلومترًا مربعًا ويبلغ تعداد سكانها 333,200 شخص (تقديرات 2010). تمتلك بليز الكثافة السكانية الأقل في أمريكا الوسطى. يبلغ النمو السكاني في البلاد 2.21% (تقديرات 2008) ومع ذلك فهي من أعلى المعدلات في المنطقة وفي نصف الكرة الغربي. تتمتع بليز بوفرة من الأنواع البرية والبحرية وفيها تنوع النظم الحيوية لكونها ممرًا بيولوجيًا لأمريكا الوسطى وموقعًا حيويًا هامًا على الصعيد العالمي. بليز فريدة من نوعها ثقافيًا بين جيرانها في أمريكا الوسطى، بل هي الدولة الوحيدة في المنطقة ذات التراث الاستعماري البريطاني. تعتبر جزءًا من منطقة البحر الكاريبي الغربية، إلا أنها تشترك بتراثها مع الأجزاء الأخرى من منطقة البحر الكاريبي بين بلدان أمريكا الوسطى. بشكل عام، تعتبر بليز دولة في أمريكا الوسطى ذات علاقات قوية مع كل من منطقة البحر الكاريبي وأمريكا اللاتينية. بليز عضو في الجماعة الكاريبية وجماعة دول أمريكا اللاتينية ومنطقة البحر الكاريبي ومنظمة تكامل أمريكا الوسطى.
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BelizeCountries and territories where English is an official languageCountries in Central AmericaCountries in North AmericaFormer British coloniesFormer Spanish coloniesMember states of the Caribbean CommunityMember states of the Commonwealth of NationsMember states of the United NationsSmall Island Developing StatesStates and territories established in 1981