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During the 1840’s, Great Britain declared Belize to be the colony of British Honduras. By the early 1900’s, Belize had grown to nearly 40,000 inhabitants. In 1931 a destructive hurricane hit Belize City heightening the poverty level of the 1930’s. By 1954, voting rights were allowed to all adults and by 1961, England agreed to begin the process towards Independence. In 1973, the colony’s name changed from British Honduras to Belize and on September 21, 1981, Belize attained Independence.
Districts: Corozal, Orange Walk, Belize, Cayo, Stann Creek, Toledo
Area: 8,866 sq. miles, including 266 sq. miles of islands (cayes)
Coastline: 174 miles
Population: Approx. 285,000
Capital City: Belmopan
Ethnic Groups: Mestizo, Creole, Garifuna, Maya, East Indian, Mennonite, Asians, Lebanese, Arabian
Languages: English (1st language), Kriol (Creole, English based), Spanish, Maya (Kekchí, Mopán, Yucatán), Garifuna, Plautdietsch (Mennonite German), Hindi
Government: Parliamentary Democracy modeled like that of the Westminster system
Currency: BZ $2 to US $1
Time Zone: GMT -6
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| The Black Orchid (Encyclia Cochleatum) is the National Flower of Belize. This orchid grows on trees in damp areas, and flowers nearly all year round. |
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| The Mahogany Tree (Swietenia Macrophilla) is one of the magnificent giants of the forest. Rising straight and tall to over a hundred feet from great buttresses at the roots, it emerges above the canopy of the surrounding trees with a crown of large, shining green leaves. |
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| The tapir is a stoutly built animal with short legs, about the size of a donkey and weighs up to 600 pounds. |
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| The Keel Billed Toucan (Ramphastos Solfurantus) is the National Bird of Belize. It is noted for its great, canoe-shaped bill, brightly colored green, blue, red and orange feathers
The bird is about 20 inches in overall length. It is mostly black with bright yellow cheeks and chest, red under the tail and a distinctive white patch at the base of the tail. |
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