The best of Belize City
Belize is a very special country. the rainforcest, the coral reef, and the divers cultures and for more complex and intricate than the guide book and magazines articles can describe.most people visiting Belize can only dream of climbing the victoria peak, ,can only imagine what the tower and gorge looks like; can only hope to one day dive the outer drop of theBelize Barrier Reef and can only catch a glimpse of Belizean lifestyle.
Late 1800's & early 1900's - Expansion of banana and chickle industries. (S)
1919 - Black Belizean soldiers, who had suffered discrimination during World War I in Europe, returned home to protest unequal, racist treatment at home. Samuel Haynes was an important leader in the 1919 riot. He became a member of the United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) of which Marcus Garvey was the leader. Samuel Haynes wrote our national anthem, Land of the Gods. (M)
1931 - Great hurricane killed over 2000 people in Belize and destroys much of the infrastructure.
1930's - First inland roads. Villages along the Old Northern Highway were established to move people out of Belize City during the Great Depression. (B)
1934 - A strike for higher wages at a local sawmill turned into a riot. Antonio Soberanis took a role as a leader in the labor movement that developed out of these events. This movement was influential in making many people begin questioning the need for a colonial government.
1930’s - Citrus as an export crop began. (L:119)
1949 - The devaluation of the Belize dollar led to the formation of the People’s United Party (PUP). PUP’s objective was political and economic independence for Belize.
The Early 1900's.
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
Capital: Belmopan
Background :Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, and increased urban crime.
Geography:only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Elevation: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
Resources :arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Hazards :frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
Population :262,999 (July 2002 est.)
Language: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole
Economy :The small, essentially private enterprise economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming greater importance. Sugar, the chief crop, accounts for nearly half of exports, while the banana industry is the country's largest employer. The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to GDP growth of 6.4% in 1999 and 10.5% in 2000. Growth decelerated in 2001 to 3% due to the global slowdown and severe hurricane damage to agriculture, fishing, and tourism. Major concerns continue to be the rapidly expanding trade deficit and foreign debt. A key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international donors.
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
LAND OF THE FREE
O, land of the free by the carib Sea,
our manhood we pledge to thy liberty!
No tyrants here linger, despots must flee
This tranquil haven of democracy
The blood of our sires which hallows the sod,
Brought freedom from slavery oppression's rod,
By the might of truth and the grace of God.
No longer shall we be hewers of wood
Arise! ye sons of the Baymen's clan,
put on your armour, clear the land!
Drive back the tyrants, let despots flee-
Land of the Free by the Carib Sea!
Nature has blessed thee with wealth untold,
O'er mountains and valleys where praries roll;
Our fathers, the Baymen, valiant and bold
Drove back the invader; this heritage hold
From proud Rio Hondo to old Sarstoon'
Through coral isle, over blue lagoon;
Keep watch with the angels, the stars and moon;
For freedom comes tomorrow's noon.
This is the flag of Belize it's blue with a
narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edge the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogony tree which is the national animal of belize.with the relationship motto (SUB UMBRA FLOREO)with means under the shade I florish.on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland.
The Map of Belize is made up of seven district.on the top of the map there is Corozal in the middle there is Orange Walk, Belize,Cayo,StannCreek,and at the bottom there is Toledo. Belize is located in Central America.near Guatemala.the capital of belize is Belmopan.belize is sorrounded by the Caribbean Sea and the out side of it is the Atlantic Ocean.
The keel billed toucan is the national bird of belize.The keel billed Toucan is famously non for it's unique colors.It's black back , yellow head, red,green,blue,orange beek.and little marble eyes.
The tapir is the national animal of belize.she goes by the name of April.
The black orchids is the national flower of belize.
The mahogany is the national tree if belize.it's the tallest tree.
Like a gaint pupil in a sea of turquoise, the Belize great blue hole is a perfectly circular limestone sink hole more than 300 ft 408 ft deep. The array of bizarre stalactites and limestone formation which would mould its walls seems to become more intricate and intense the deeper one dives.
Light house reef is the atoll nearest the Great Blue hole and only at lighthouse reef resort cna you dive the blue hole and half moon cage at no extra cost! No less an authority then captain Jacques Cousteau called the great blue hole one of the four most dive locations an this blue planet.
Belize is blessed with the second largest living Barrier Reef in the world and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. It is just one of the country’s most valuable assets. Currently, Belize has twelve marine protected areas and seven of these constitute the cluster that was proclaimed The Belize Barrier Reef World Heritage Site (BBRWHS) by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1996. These seven protected areas that constitute the BBRWHS represent the character and the diversity of the ecosystems found within Belize Barrier Reef System. To increase awareness of the value and importance of conserving Belize’s Barrier Reef World Heritage Site the Education Department at the Belize Zoo recently completed a dynamic program in the Toledo, Stann Creek and Corozal Districts called the Reef Outreach Programme. UNDP/ GEF, UNF and COMPACT sponsored this outreach programme.
