Belize

Belize is a country in the Central America region. It is located in northeastern Central America on the coast of the Caribbean Sea, and is named after a river with a Mayan name meaning 'muddy water'. Its capital city is Belmopan. Surface area of this country is 22,696 sq km. Dollar is its currency. English is its official language. Creole and Spanish is also spoken.

Formerly, it was known by the name British Honduras until 1973, a fertile district, and the city of Belize was its capital. It was proclaimed a British Crown Colony in 1862.

Belize became independent within the Commonwealth of Nations in 1981. However, Guatemala that bordered on the west and south, agreed to recognize the existence of Belize only in 1992. It may be mentioned here that Guatemala has always claimed the territory on the basis of old Spanish treaties.

It exports mahogany, rosewood, sugar, india-rubber, &c.