Development and Environment
Big Question: How can all Belizeans thrive now and in the future?
Unit Title: The Physical Geography of Belize
5.1 Identify the ecological, climatic and tectonic regions that Belize is part of.
Belize is both part of Central America and the Caribbean. Geographically, it also part of the Yucatan Peninsula.
TECTONIC REGIONS
The surface of the earth is made up of tectonic plates that slowly move around. When the plates move they push or slide against each other or move apart. These movements cause earthquakes and volcanoes near the plate boundaries.
Belize in on the North American Plate. It is not close enough to the plate's boundaries for it to experience volcanoes or large earthquakes.
The Cocos Plate is moving under the Caribbean and North American plates causing earthquakes and volcanic activity in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Southern Mexico.
Volcanic activity in the Lesser Antilles is caused by the collision between the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate
The Cocos Plate is moving under the Caribbean and North American plates causing earthquakes and volcanic activity in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Southern Mexico.
Volcanic activity in the Lesser Antilles is caused by the collision between the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate
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5.2 Compare the physical geography of Belize with that of at least one other country in either Central America or the Caribbean.
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF BELIZE & THE REGION
What is physical geography?
The physical geography of a region include its landforms and water bodies.
The physical geography of a region include its landforms and water bodies.
For a small region, Central America has a great variety of physical characteristics. These include:
The Pacific Coastal Plain.
This is a strip of land about 40 miles wide that starts in southern Mexico and runs down the Pacific coastlines of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The land in the coastal strip is very fertile because rivers have deposited ash from nearby volcanoes. Rainfall is also high.
High Mountains
A long strip of mountains runs from north to south through southern Mexico, Western Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The four highest mountains in the region are all in Guatemala. Volcán Tajumulco is 13845 feet high and Volcán Tacana has an altitude of 13343 feet. There are a total of 25 mountains about 6,500 feer. 9 in Honduras, 8 in Guatemala, 4 in El Salvador, 3 in Costa Rica, 2 in Nicaragua and 1 in Panama. Belize is the only Central American country without high mountains. Doyle{s Delight is 3,699 feet high.
Central and Northern Lowlands
The Eastern part of Central America, from the Yucatan Peninsula and Belize southwards into Honduras and Nicaragua feature flat low lying areas. This region is mostly covered in limestone. Caves and sinkholes are common.
Rivers
The longest rivers in the region begin in the western highlands and flow east to the Caribbean sea. Some examples include the Rio Coco (466 miles long), the Rio Patuca (311 miles) and Rio Motagua (302 miles). Rivers are often used to mark national borders. Part of the Mexico-Guatemala border is marked by the Usumacinta River, which is over 600 miles long. The San Juan River begins at the regions largest lake (Lago Cocibolca or Lake Nicaragua) before forming part of the Nicaragua- Costa Rica border.
The Pacific Coastal Plain.
This is a strip of land about 40 miles wide that starts in southern Mexico and runs down the Pacific coastlines of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The land in the coastal strip is very fertile because rivers have deposited ash from nearby volcanoes. Rainfall is also high.
High Mountains
A long strip of mountains runs from north to south through southern Mexico, Western Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The four highest mountains in the region are all in Guatemala. Volcán Tajumulco is 13845 feet high and Volcán Tacana has an altitude of 13343 feet. There are a total of 25 mountains about 6,500 feer. 9 in Honduras, 8 in Guatemala, 4 in El Salvador, 3 in Costa Rica, 2 in Nicaragua and 1 in Panama. Belize is the only Central American country without high mountains. Doyle{s Delight is 3,699 feet high.
- : The high mountains of Central America were mostly caused by volcanic activity. Some of these volcanoes are active today, including Pacaya and Fuego in Guatemala and Masaya in Nicaragua.
Central and Northern Lowlands
The Eastern part of Central America, from the Yucatan Peninsula and Belize southwards into Honduras and Nicaragua feature flat low lying areas. This region is mostly covered in limestone. Caves and sinkholes are common.
Rivers
The longest rivers in the region begin in the western highlands and flow east to the Caribbean sea. Some examples include the Rio Coco (466 miles long), the Rio Patuca (311 miles) and Rio Motagua (302 miles). Rivers are often used to mark national borders. Part of the Mexico-Guatemala border is marked by the Usumacinta River, which is over 600 miles long. The San Juan River begins at the regions largest lake (Lago Cocibolca or Lake Nicaragua) before forming part of the Nicaragua- Costa Rica border.
5.3 Explain how the physical geography of a selected location in Belize influences where people live and how they work.
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How does geography influence where we settle and build our communities?
When people build a settlement, there are some basic needs that need to be met. These include being able to get water, food, fuel, and materials for building shelters. They also need to ensure that the settlement will be safe from attack and relateively free of disease, People also need to trade with other communities, so being on or close to trade routes is important.
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Is it only our physical environment that influence where people live?
Some features that are important in where settlements are located:
RIVERS: Many settlements are on rivers or streams because they provide water for drinking, cooking and other activities. Rivers can make it easier to travel to other places for trade. Sometimes settlements were built behind a river for defense. HILLS: In areas where wars were frequent, settlements were often built on the top of a hill because this made then difficult to attack. SWAMPS: Few settlements are built in swamps because of the danger of disease. The link between swamps and diseases like malaria was known thousands of years ago. SOILS: All settlements need food so access to good soil is important. In Belize, the areas that have the fewest people are the ones with the poorest soils. COASTLINES: Most of the world's biggest cities are on the coast. A coastal location is good for trade as well as for fishing and, in modern times, tourism. FORESTS: It is common to find towns and villages at the edge of forests because people used wood for building and for keeping warm. Forests were also sources of food. METALS and MINERALS: Sometimes settlements grow because they control access to an important resource such as salt, iron ore, coal, precious metals or other minerals. |
Investigate why the place where you live is in its location.
What did the original inhabitants use as a source of water? Where did their food come from? What natural resources were available in the local area? Was the location good for trade? Was it good for defense from attack?
What did the original inhabitants use as a source of water? Where did their food come from? What natural resources were available in the local area? Was the location good for trade? Was it good for defense from attack?
Why are the towns and villages of Belize where they are?
5.4 Explore the concept of sustainable development.
WHAT IS DEVELOPMENT?
DISCUSSION: Explore the concept of development in relation to a country's progress towards having high quality of life for all its people.
What is Quality of Life?
Quality of life can be defined in many different ways. It is often said to relate to how far people feel healthy, comfortable and able to enjoy life.
Which of the following do you consider most important in determining the quality of a person's life? What else would you add to the list?
Quality of life can be defined in many different ways. It is often said to relate to how far people feel healthy, comfortable and able to enjoy life.
Which of the following do you consider most important in determining the quality of a person's life? What else would you add to the list?
- Health
- Education
- Access to clean water
- Housing
- Money
- Climate
- Job security
- A fulfilling, interesting job
- Family life
- Safety and security
- Freedom to say and do what you want
- Freedom to participate in public life
- Equality - the gap between the richest and poorest people.
WHAT MAKES DEVELOPMENT SUSTAINABLE?
Sustainable development occurs when a society meets the needs of the present without weakening the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
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UNICEF is an international organization that works to improve the lives of the world's children. Click thie icon to read its "Fast Facts about Belize" and to learn more about its programs.
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The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are 17 goals with 169 targets that all 191 members of the United Nations, including Belize, have agreed to try to achieve by 2030. The goals address global challenges that we all face related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, health, education, food, clean water and so on. Click to read more.
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WHAT CAN MAKE DEVELOPMENT UNSUSTAINABLE?
5.5 Discuss Belize’s progress towards achieving sustainable development goals in relation to poverty reduction, education and health.
HOW CAN ALL BELIZEANS THRIVE NOW AND IN THE FUTURE?
The vision to be achieved by 2030 through the successful implementation of the children's agenda is that Belize will become the best country in the world in which to grow up and raise a family, and where the rights of all children and adolescents are respected, protected and fulfilled, where their voices are heard and where they are supported to realize their maximum potential.
According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the average Belizean can expect to go to school for ten years, have an income of BZ$14,300 per year and live unitl they are seventy years old. Belize ranks 106th out of 188 countries in the UNDP's Human Development Index. Countries with a similar ranking include Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Dominica and St Vincent in the Caribbean. In Central America, Costa Rica (63rd) and Panama (66th) have the highest ranking and Mexico is ranked 74th. Nicaragua (124) Guatemala (127) Honduras (133) have a lower Human Development Index than Belize. The countries in the world with the highest rankings are Norway, Switzerland and Australia. (Read the full report here)
However, the UNDP Human Development Index is based on only a few statistics. Many people think it does not reflect what it is like to live in a country. It has been suggested that ideas about development should focus more on the overall quality of life in a country.
However, the UNDP Human Development Index is based on only a few statistics. Many people think it does not reflect what it is like to live in a country. It has been suggested that ideas about development should focus more on the overall quality of life in a country.
What is Poverty?
According to the Government about 40% of Belizeans live in poverty. Most, but not all of these people, live in rural areas.
As this video shows, poverty is not just defined as a lack of money.
According to the Government about 40% of Belizeans live in poverty. Most, but not all of these people, live in rural areas.
As this video shows, poverty is not just defined as a lack of money.
Is development in Belize inc Crisis? Click on the icon to read one Belizean writer's opinion. Discuss with your classmates if you agree.
5.6 Investigate the impact of and potential responses to an environmental threat to the present and future development of Belize.
Belize is a beautiful country that relies on exploiting the natural environment for its wealth. However, this environment is threatened by human and natural processes including:
* global warming
* ocean acidification
* coral bleaching
* soil erosiion
* deforestation
* land, air and water pollution
* agricultural diseases
* loss of habitat for wild species
* overfishing
* global warming
* ocean acidification
* coral bleaching
* soil erosiion
* deforestation
* land, air and water pollution
* agricultural diseases
* loss of habitat for wild species
* overfishing
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