Geography of Belize

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

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

Belize has a tropical climate, with 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 a lot 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 all year.

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. There is also a small dry spell in late July or August after the rainy season starts.

Hurricanes

Hurricanes have caused big 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 a lot of 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 sit in the south-central part of the country. Many hilly areas around the Maya Mountains have lots of 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 faces several environmental challenges, including deforestation, water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and solid waste disposal.

The country is part of many international agreements to protect the environment, such as the Basel Convention, Convention on Biological Diversity, Ramsar Convention, CITES, and others aimed at preserving nature and reducing pollution.

Climate change

Belize is very affected by climate change because of its low-lying coast, many different plants and animals, and its dependence on tourism and farming. Rising sea levels and coastal erosion danger coast areas and coral reefs. Warmer ocean water is causing coral bleaching, which hurts wildlife and fisheries. Extreme weather like hurricanes and floods happen more often now, causing damage to buildings and ways people make a living.

Even though Belize’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 were small (7.46 million tonnes), it has one of the highest amounts per person. Changes in land use and forestry are the biggest reasons for these emissions. The government plans to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and has made plans to become stronger against climate change and adjust to its effects.

Natural resources

Belize has many important 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 stands at 1124 meters above sea level. The lowest point is the Atlantic Ocean, at sea level, which is 0 meters.