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Belize, officially the Republic Belize, is a country located on the eastern coast of Central America.
Belize has an area of 22,966 square km.
Belmopan is its capital and Belize City is its largest city.
English is the official language of Belize.
Belize dollar is its official currency.
Gibnut, a rodent, is Belize's most prized culinary delicacy. It's also known as the "royal rat" because it was served to Queen Elizabeth.
Belizeans are intelligent people. The country recently passed legislation decriminalising the possession of up to 10 grammes of marijuana.
Belize is also known as the "Jewel in the Heart of the Caribbean".
There are also some strange folklore characters in the country. El Sisimito, one of them, is a dwarf with a thumb complex. He doesn't have a thumb, so he cuts off everyone else's. He's also known for his trademark red hat and silver guitar. Yes, a goblin with a guitar and a penchant for thumb cutting!
The canopy of the forests has inspired the national motto of Belize which is "Under the Shade I flourish". It's everywhere and on everything that's official.
Thumb locking is actually a sign of greeting in Belize.
Belizeans are laid-back people with a go-slow attitude. The majority of the country lives in small towns and villages and socialises extensively.
More than 90% of Belizeans can read and most can communicate in three languages: English, Spanish, and Creole.
The black orchid is Belize's national flower.
Belizean cuisine is devoid of distinction and will delight you with surprises and variety. Culinary traditions are influenced by a variety of cultures, including French, Spanish, American, Caribbean, and Mexican.
The Belize Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to over 450 different fish species. Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve, Blue Hole Natural Monument, Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, South Water Caye Marine Reserve, Glover's Reef Marine Reserve, Laughing Bird Caye National Park, and Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve are among the seven protected areas.
Belizians should not be addressed by their first name. In the country, this is considered impolite.
In 2005, the release of a new national budget with significant tax increases sparked civil unrest in Belize.
Belize was a popular vacation spot for the Mayans. There are over 900 Mayan ruins in this small country.
Belize's modern history is intertwined with that of the United Kingdom. The small Caribbean country was a British Empire colony and a vital source of timber.
Belize got its current name only after it gained independence from Britain in 1973. It was previously known as British Honduras.
During the 17th century, Ambergris Caye Island served as a haven for ships attacking the Spanish fleet. In 1869, the island was also sold for $625 to a Mr. James Humes Blake.
The country was formed as a result of a love triangle between Belize, Guatemala, and the United Kingdom. When the United Kingdom declared Belize a country on September 21, 1981, Guatemala seceded from the United Kingdom and Belize.
Guatemala, a neighbouring country, is not very comfortable with Belize and has always it considered the whole territory of Belize as its "Department No. 23".
The current location of the nation's capital was altered when Hurricane Hattie struck on October 31, 1961. Since then, the capital has been relocated 50 miles inland. At least 400 people were killed by the hurricane, which destroyed half of Belize City.
Belize is the result of the confluence of several ethnic groups who came here at various times to escape war, slavery, and prosecution. Mestizo, Mennonites, Garinagu, and Creole are some examples.
The three national heroes of Belize are Philip Goldson (newspaper editor), Monrad Metzgen (politician), and George Cadle Price (Father of the Nation).
Every year on September 10th, Belize celebrates its national day.
San Pedro, Belize District's second largest town, was founded in 1848. As a lament for the town of San Pedro, the famous song "La Isla Bonita" was written. It was later co-written by American pop singer Maddona and became a huge hit in the music industry.
Agriculture, agro-based industry, tourism, construction, and merchandising are the mainstays of the country's economy.
It is the only Central American country without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean.
For the past 30 years, Belize has been losing forest at a rate of 10,000 hectares per year. To this day, the country has lost forest area the size of Rhode Island.
Belize has Central America's third highest per capita income.
In 2015, Belize had the region's second highest population growth rate of 1.87% per year.
Belize is home to the second largest barrier reef system in the world, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System which is also known as Great Mayan Reef.
Belize is a hot, sun-drenched paradise with some cool places to visit. The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is the world's ONLY jaguar reserve.
The Belize Defense Force (BDF) has a total of 1400 personnel spread across its army, navy, and air force. That is less than the workforce at McDonald's.
Belize is guarded by bigger guns. It is still a British Commonwealth nation, with Her Majesty, the Queen of Buckingham Place, as the head of state. If you mess with Belize, you're messing with the queen.
Mountain Cow, Belize's national animal, is a biological cross between a horse and a rhinoceros. It is known locally as tapir and resembles a giant Guiana pig, weighing over 500 pounds.
Doyle's Delight, a tree-covered mountain peak where many jaguars lurk in the dark of night, is Belize's highest point.
The pyramid form El Castillo is Belize's tallest man-made structure. A ghost known as "stone-woman" is said to climb the stairs and merge with the temple wall, dressed in white and with fiery eyes.
More than 80% of the rainforest is protected and inaccessible by the government.
Belize has over 450 cayes (pronounced keys), or small islands. They truly are the key to happiness.
A Guatemalan minor was killed near the Belize border in 2016. Guatemala sent 3000 additional troops to the Belize border as a result of this incident.
Although the islands have been uninhabited for many years, each Caye has a government-appointed watchman. This has to be the most awesome job ever.
The forests here produce an incredible variety of cashew trees. Some are deliciously edible, while others are poisonous.
The Great Blue Hole is the world's largest sea sinkhole and a deep sea diver's paradise. It's a massive 984-foot-wide, 407-foot-deep depression in the middle of the sea. It is said that as one goes deeper, the water becomes clearer and the formations more complex.
Jacques Cousteau, a French naval officer, was the first to dive into this sinkhole in 1971. His historic testimony sparked a tourism frenzy, with scuba divers flocking to find the hole.
Cocoa is yet another exotic gift from Mother Nature to Belize. The Toledo Cacao Fest offers memorable tours of the entire chocolate-making process.
Belize has Central America's lowest population density, with only 15 people per square kilometre.
The Toledo district is officially known as "the forgotten land" of Belize. In the middle of nowhere, there is a pristine, untouched world.
Belizeans are extremely enthusiastic about their natural formations. They name their natural wonders and locations after animals and are frequently awkward. A forest is known as the Old Moon Monkey, a waterfall as the Coral Eyed Butterfly, and a trek as the False Vampire Bat.
Mother Nature is also Belize's worst enemy. Every year, hurricanes and storms destroy a large portion of coastal infrastructure.
Belize is the result of the confluence of several ethnic groups who came here at various times to escape war, slavery, and prosecution. Mestizo, Mennonites, Garinagu, and Creole are some examples.
Tourism, agriculture, and cocaine are Belize's top three revenue generators. The first two are controlled by the government, while the third is controlled by a South American mafia cartel.
Belize is one of the top five least populated countries in the world.
The Shark Ray Alley in the reef system is home to a variety of nurse sharks and sting rays, and it is not as dangerous as it sounds.
Over 500 orchid species can be found in the Belize Rainforest.
Belize is an important component of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.
Belize has some amazing caves with adventurous trekking routes and spooky stories to keep you entertained along the way.
Belize is a popular tourist destination for those who enjoy caves or sunny beaches. Every year, more than two million tourists visit the small country.
Gladden Spit in Belize is a popular destination for whale watchers, and the magnanimous whale shark can be seen on full moon.
Belize has a number of themed Mayan villages, each with its own culture, traditions, festivals, and geography.
Barton Creek Cave is a one-kilometer-long creek cave where five mysterious Stone Age human skeletons were discovered. A child's skeleton was among the bodies buried one on top of the other.
There are no McDonalds, Burger King, Starbucks, or KFC in Belize. There isn't even a single outlet.
Belize has only one international airport, which is located near Belize City.
Body 2000 - Belize City's largest and most popular gym, was closed in May 2015 due to the owner's failure to pay his 2015 trade licence. The Prime Minister and his wife, as well as some of the northside's nouveau riche, frequented the fitness centre.
Belize is the only Central American country where English is not the official language.
The "jabiru stork," the largest flying bird in North, Central, and South America, lives in the Belize Rainforest.
Belize's backyard is home to some hardcore party animals. It is home to the world's noisiest monkey, the howler monkey. Their shriek can be heard for two miles through the forest.
Belize has been named one of the world's happiest countries.
Hurricane season in Belize lasts from June to November.
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