More recently, it has been proposed that the name comes from the Mayan phrase "bel Itza", meaning "the road to Itza". It has been proposed that Delgado's "Balis" was actually the Mayan word belix (or belize), meaning "muddy-watered". The names of these waterways, which correspond to the Sittee River, Sibun River, and Belize River, were provided to Delgado by his translator. Delgado recorded the names of three major rivers that he crossed while travelling north along the Caribbean coast: Rio Soyte, Rio Kibum, and Rio Balis. The earliest known record of the name "Belize" appears in the journal of the Dominican priest Fray José Delgado, dating to 1677.
#Belize port map full#
It is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the Central American Integration System (SICA), the only country to hold full membership in all three regional organizations. It is considered a Central American and Caribbean nation with strong ties to both the American and Caribbean regions. īelize's abundance of terrestrial and marine species and its diversity of ecosystems give it a key place in the globally significant Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. It is known for its September Celebrations, its extensive barrier reef coral reefs, and punta music. Over half the population is multilingual, due to the diverse linguistic backgrounds of the population. Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language, followed by the Mayan languages, German dialects, and Garifuna. It is the only Central American country where English is the official language, while Belizean Creole is the most widely spoken dialect. Belize is the only country in Central America with a monarch as its head of state.īelize has a diverse society that is composed of many cultures and languages that reflect its rich history. It achieved its independence from the United Kingdom on 21 September 1981. In 1840 it became a British colony known as British Honduras, and a Crown colony in 1862. Spain and Britain both laid claim to the land until Britain defeated the Spanish in the Battle of St. European exploration was begun by English settlers in 1638. European contact began in 1492 when Christopher Columbus sailed along the Gulf of Honduras. The Maya civilization spread into the area of Belize between 1500 BCE and 300 CE and flourished until about 1200.
Its capital is Belmopan, and its largest city is the namesake city of Belize City. Its population growth rate of 1.87% per year (2018 estimate) is the second-highest in the region and one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere. It is the least populated and least densely populated country in Central America. Its mainland is about 290 km (180 mi) long and 110 km (68 mi) wide. It borders Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. Belize ( / b ə ˈ l iː z/ ( listen)) is a Caribbean country on the northeastern coast of Central America.
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