History
Belize, formerly known as British Honduras, is the only official English-speaking country in Central America, though many people also speak Spanish or Creole. Belize was a British colony for more than a century and was known as British Honduras until 1973. It became an independent nation within The Commonwealth in 1981.
Population
With 8,867 square miles of territory and close to 300,000 people, the population density is the lowest in the Central American region and one of the lowest in the world.
Geography
The Caribbean coast is lined with a coral reef and some 450 islets and islands known locally as cayes (pronounced "keys"), forming the approximately 200 mile long Belize Barrier Reef, the longest in the western hemisphere and the second longest in the world after the Great Barrier Reef.The picture to the right was taken in San Pedro. San Pedro is a popular tourist destination on one of the cayes off the coast of Belize.
Climate
The climate is hot and humid. The rainy season lasts from May to November.
Government
Belize has a Prime Minister. The picture to the left is the current Prime Minister, Dean Barrow.
Wildlife
Belize is home to many different species of wildlife. The Scarlet Macaw, part of the parrot family, is an animal often associated with Central America. These birds are considered endangered. These magnificent creatures are about three feet long from head to tail and have a wing span of around four feet. Another bird that is native to Belize is the Toucan. The Keel Billed Toucan is the national bird. It has a brightly colored bill. Another creature you will most likely see a lot of in Belize is the lizard. The picture here is a fairly common sight. Lizards seem to always find their way inside and like to crawl across the ceiling or on window screens.
For more information about Belize, visit Belize's official web page.