Belize Facts for Kids

Belize is a small country in Central America. Belize is the only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean. It was a part of the Mayan Empire. Belize changed its name from British Honduras in 1973. Belize was a British colony for many years. It gained independence on September 21, 1981. The British and Spanish fought to own Belize in the 17th and 18th centuries. It became a British colony in 1854.

• The people of Belize are called Belizeans.
• The total population of Belize is over 383,000.
• Belize has the smallest population in Central America.
• The currency in Belize is the Belize Dollar or BZD.

• A picture of British Queen Elizabeth II is on the Belize Dollar.
• The government in Belize is a Parliamentary Democracy.
• English is the official language of Belize.
• The main religion in Belize is Christianity. Most people in Belize are Roman Catholic or Protestant.

• The total area of Belize is 8,867 square miles.
• The country is about 60 miles wide.
• You can drive across Belize in about 90 minutes.
• The country is a little smaller than the state of Massachusetts.
• The capital of Belize is Belmopan.
• Belize City is the largest city in the country.
• Belize has a tropical climate.
• The weather is very hot and humid.
• The temperature in Belize stays around 84 degrees Fahrenheit all year.
• The dry season happens from February to May.
• The rainy season is from May to November.
• Belize is a flat country.
• It is a swampy coastal plain.
• Belize has low mountains in the south.
• The highest point in Belize is Victoria Peak at 1,160 meters.
• The lowest point is the Caribbean Sea at 0 meters.
• Sometimes hurricanes hit Belize.
• Belize has about 450 islands.
• The largest island in Belize is Ambergris Cay. T
• he longest river in Belize is the Mopan.
• The Belize Barrier Reef is the second largest coral reef in the world. It is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.
• It measures 190 miles long.
• The world’s largest underwater sinkhole is in Belize. It is the Great Blue Hole.
• More than half of Belize is Rainforest.
• The waterfalls in Belize are the biggest in Central America.
• The world’s only Jaguar nature preserve is in Belize.
• It is the Cockscomb basin Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Belize has a big subterranean cave system.
• Belize has many mahogany trees. They grow up to 100 meters tall. They live for over 100 years.
• The major industries in Belize are tourism, garment production, food processing, and construction.
• Belize produces bananas, citrus, sugar, and coca.
• Belize also provides fish, cultured shrimp, lumber, and garments.
• The natural resources of Belize are hydropower, fish, timber, and good land for crops.
• The major exports of Belize are bananas, sugar, molasses, citrus, wood, clothing, and fish.
• Belize gets things like medicine, chemicals, and machines from other countries

• Belize’s flag is the only national flag with human beings on it.
• Belize has only 4 highways in total.
• There are more than 500 species of fish in Belize. Up to 90% of the reef in Belize is waiting for discovery.
• Belize has over 500 distinct varieties of birds. That is more than any other country in the world.
• Belize was the heart of the ancient Mayan world.
• Belize is one the best places in the world to see sharks. The best time to see sharks is from April to July.
• Belize has a rare species of howler monkey. It is one of the top ten loudest animals in the world. Its howl can travel three miles through the dense forest.
• There are 95 protected areas in Belize. Some of the protected areas are terrestrial and marine national parks. There are also national monuments, wildlife sanctuaries, and nature reserves. Belize also has archaeological reserves and private conservation areas. Only researchers can enter Belize’s three nature reserves.
• Most Belizeans are trilingual. They speak English, Spanish, and Creole.
• The national dish of Belize is 1, 2, and 3. It has stewed chicken, rice and beans, and potato salad.
• Belize has more than 900 historic Mayan locations.
• There are many cashew trees in Belize’s forests.
• The national motto of Belize is ’Under the Shade I flourish’ for the forest canopy.
• Belizeans greet each other by locking thumbs.
• The national flower of Belize is the black orchid.
• People love to visit Belize for vacation. Many people also choose to retire in Belize. Belize’s nickname is ‘The Jewel in the heart of the Caribbean basin.’