Countries bordering Belize
Belize shares land borders with Mexico to the north, and Guatemala to the west and south. The only Central American country with no Pacific coastline, Belize nevertheless has 386 km of coastline on the Caribbean Sea. It is on this sea that Belize shares a maritime border with Honduras, which borders Guatemala on land. The border with Guatemala was regularly contested by the latter, arguing that the British, who defined the border in a treaty called the "Wyke-Aycinena Treaty" co-signed with the Guatemalan authorities at the time, had never respected the clause providing for the construction of a road linking Guatemala City to the Caribbean coast. This dispute is now in the hands of the International Court of Justice, to which both countries have entrusted the final decision. Belize has also asked the International Court of Justice to rule on its dispute with Honduras over the territorial ownership of the Sapodilla Islands. Both decisions are expected in the coming years.
The world's second largest barrier reef
With almost 400 km of coastline on the Caribbean Sea, Belize has more than 450 islands and cays (islets) of sand and mangrove covering an area of approximately 690 km². These islands are divided into groups from north to south of Belize's territorial waters: the Ambergris Group, the Central Group, the Southern Group, Turneffe Atoll, Lighthouse Reef Atoll and Glover's Reef Atoll. These different groups are administratively attached to the districts of Corozal and Belize City. Together, these islands are known as the Belize Barrier Reef, and represent the second largest barrier reef in the world, just behind Australia's Great Barrier Reef. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. It is the country's most popular tourist destination, as exploring it offers the chance to discover exceptional Caribbean landscapes, not least because of the three aforementioned atolls, which are among the largest in the world. The country is also famous among scuba divers for the natural site of the Great Blue Hole, a giant underwater abyss 300 m in circumference and 124 m deep, located in the center of the Lighthouse Reef atoll and whose formation began 150,000 years BC.
Geology
Belize's geology consists largely of limestone varieties, with the notable exception of the Maya Mountains, a large uplifted block of Paleozoic intrusive granite and sediment extending northeast to southwest across the south-central part of the country. Several major faults border these high plateaus, but much of Belize lies outside the tectonically active zone that underlies most of Central America. During the Cretaceous period, what are now the western Maya Mountains rose above sea level, creating Central America's oldest land surface, the Mountain Pine Ridge Plateau. The hilly regions surrounding the Maya Mountains are formed of Cretaceous limestone. These areas are characterized by a karst topography featuring numerous sinkholes, caverns and underground streams. Unlike Mountain Pine Ridge, some soils in these areas are highly fertile and have been cultivated for at least the last 4,000 years. Much of the northern half of Belize lies on the tectonically stable Yucatán Platform. Although mainly flat, this part of the country also features occasional areas of hilly and karst terrain, such as the Yalbac Hills along the western border with Guatemala and the Manatee Hills between Belize City and Dangriga.
The Maya Mountains
The Maya Mountains are a chain of peaks located mainly in Belize, but also in the eastern part of Guatemala. They begin in the western part of the country and slope gently eastwards to the coast.
The Maya Mountains are a relatively short chain of peaks, culminating in Doyle's Delight in the Cayo district at 1,124 meters. Doyle's Delight owes its name to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries. In 1912, Doyle wrote a book entitled The LostWorld, which describes Belize's mountains as wild and beautiful. The second highest peak in the Maya Mountains is Victoria Peak, in the Stann Creek district of eastern Belize. Victoria Peak rises to a height of 1,120 metres. Victoria Peak is classified as a natural monument and is located within the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Reserve. Although the two highest peaks are difficult to reach, the Maya Mountains remain a major attraction in Belize thanks to their breathtaking views, unspoilt landscapes, abundant wildlife and numerous waterfalls. Many of Belize's national forests and protected conservation areas lie partially or entirely within the Maya Mountain range.
Anyone considering a trip to Belize should definitely visit the Maya Mountains. Sightseeing in the region includes hiking to the top of the 400-meter-high waterfalls, horseback riding, birdwatching, canoeing and visiting ancient Mayan sites such as Lubaantun and Cahal Pech, which were built on the outskirts of the Maya Mountains. Belize vacations in this region also allow for activities such as caving and tubing, the latter being a typically Belizean activity involving the use of an inner tube to float on placid underground rivers. The town of San Ignacio is ideally located next to the Maya Mountains, making it a perfect base for travelers wishing to explore this region. The Maya Mountains can also be explored by car via the Hummingbird Highway, a beautiful road that crosses between San Ignacio and Dangriga.
