Geography of Belize

Belize is a small nation in Central America. It sits near the equator on the Yucatán Peninsula. Belize has a coastline along the Caribbean Sea to the east. It shares land borders with Mexico to the north-northwest and Guatemala to the south-southwest. Belize does not have a coast on the Pacific Ocean.

The country has many beautiful coral reefs, cays, and islands. This includes large Ambergris Caye and the famous Belize Barrier Reef. The Belize Barrier Reef is the longest in the western hemisphere. Belize's largest river is the Belize River. The highest point in the country is Doyle's Delight. It stands at 1,124 meters above sea level.

Belize has a tropical climate. There is a rainy season from June to November and a dry season from January to May. The country can face natural hazards such as hurricanes, especially from September to December, and coastal flooding. Earthquakes are rare but have occurred in southern Belize.

Physical features

Belize has two main land areas. The first is marked by the Maya Mountains and their valleys and flat areas, which cover most of the southern part of the country except a narrow strip along the coast. These mountains reach up to about 1,100 metres, with the highest point being Doyle's Delight at 1,124 metres in Western Belize. This area has thin, sandy soil and is mostly forested with few people living there.

The second area includes the northern lowlands and the southern coastal plain. There are eighteen big rivers and many small streams in these low areas. The coast is flat and marshy, with many lagoons, especially in the north and middle parts of the country. Moving west from the northern coast, the land changes from mangrove swamps to tropical pine areas and forests. The largest lake in Belize is New River Lagoon, which is about 13.5 km².

Belize has a special area of water control called an exclusive economic zone that stretches 35,351 km² and a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles. Belize is the only Central American country without a coast on the North Pacific Ocean.

Rivers

The network of rivers, small rivers, and lagoons has been important in Belize's history. The largest and most important river is the Belize River. It flows through more than a quarter of the country from the Maya Mountains to the sea near Belize City. It was the main route for trade and communication between the inland areas and the coast until the twentieth century.

Other important rivers include the Sibun River, which flows near the northeastern edge of the Maya Mountains, and the New River, which runs through the northern sugar-growing areas before reaching Chetumal Bay. Both of these river valleys have rich soil and have been good for farming and settlements.

Islands

Forests

In Belize, forests cover about 56% of the land, which is around 1,277,050 hectares. This is less than the 1,600,030 hectares in 1990. In 2020, most of the forest was naturally growing, with a small part being planted. About 59% of the forest area is inside protected areas.

REDD+ forest reference level and monitoring

Belize has joined a global program called REDD+ to help protect its forests. In 2020, Belize shared its plans for this program, which were checked in 2021. These plans cover five activities and set goals for the years 2016 to 2020. Belize also has a system to watch its forests using satellites and on-the-ground checks. This helps the country manage its forests, report on them, and work with the REDD+ program.

Climate

Belize has a tropical climate with wet and dry seasons. The weather changes depending on where you are in the country. Along the coast, temperatures stay between 24 °C (75 °F) in January and 27 °C (81 °F) in July. It gets a bit warmer inland, except in the southern highlands where it is cooler.

Rainfall changes a lot too. The north and west get about 1,350 millimeters (53.1 in) of rain each year, while the far south can get over 4,500 millimeters (177.2 in). The north and middle of Belize have a dry season from January to April or May, with very little rain. The south has a shorter dry season, usually just from February to April.

Hurricanes

Hurricanes have caused changes in Belize over the years. In 1931, a hurricane destroyed many buildings in Belize City. In 1955, Hurricane Janet damaged the town of Corozal. In 1961, Hurricane Hattie hit hard, leading to the capital moving inland to Belmopan. Later hurricanes like Hurricane Mitch, Hurricane Keith, Tropical Storm Chantal, Hurricane Iris, and Hurricane Dean also brought damage.

Geology

Belize is mostly made up of different kinds of limestone, except for the Maya Mountains. These mountains are made of old granite and are in the south-central part of the country. Many hilly areas around the Maya Mountains have sinkholes, caverns, and underground streams.

The northern part of Belize is very flat and stable, called the Yucatán Platform. Even here, there are some small hilly areas, like the Yalbac Hills and the Manatee Hills. The flat coastal lands have soil that can be good for growing things.

Environmental issues

Belize has some environmental problems, such as deforestation and water pollution. Pollution comes from sewage, factories, farms, and solid waste.

Belize is part of many international agreements to help the environment, like the Basel Convention, Convention on Biological Diversity, Ramsar Convention, and CITES.

Climate change

Climate change affects Belize a lot because it has a low-lying coast, many plants and animals, and depends on tourism and farming. Rising sea levels and coastal erosion can danger coast areas and coral reefs. Warmer ocean water causes coral bleaching, which hurts wildlife and fisheries. Extreme weather such as hurricanes and floods happens more often now, causing damage.

Belize plans to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and is making plans to be stronger against climate change.

Natural resources

Belize has many minerals, but none are found in large enough amounts to mine. These minerals include dolomite, barite, bauxite, cassiterite, and gold. In 1990, the only mineral being used was limestone, which helped build roads.

Oil companies from the United States looked for oil in Belize in the early 1980s, but they did not start producing it. Because of this, Belize still needs to import oil for energy. However, Belize has good potential for other clean energy sources, like hydroelectric, solar, and biomass power. In 2005, a company found oil that could be used near Spanish Lookout.

Extreme points

Belize has several extreme points. The northernmost point is called Subteniente Lopez. The southernmost point is near the border with Guatemala, close to a place called Chocon. The westernmost point is also on the border with Guatemala, at the Sarstoon River. The easternmost point is Lighthouse Reef. The highest point in Belize is Doyle's Delight, which is 1124 meters above sea level. The lowest point is the Atlantic Ocean, at sea level, which is 0 meters.