What is Belizean Studies I?

Introduction to Belizean Studies

Big Question: What is Belize?

Unit Title: The Geography of Belize

1.1 Describe the location of Belize relative to other places in the region and the wider world.

Geographers can describe the location of a place in one of two ways: absolute location or relative location. Discuss the video with a partner and use any graphic organizer to compare absolute and relative locations.

Relative location simply means describing the position of one place compared to another. This can be done as follows:

Using Descriptive Words
Belize is a long way from China.
Canada is next to the U.S.A.

Using Distances in Miles or Kilometres
Rio de Janeiro in Brazil is 9200 km from London, England.

Using Directions
Panama City is to the south-east of Belize.

Using Altitude
Guatemala City is higher than Belize City.

Absolute location describes a precise point on Earth.
The most common way is to identify the location using coordinates such as latitude and longitude.

1.2 Identify the approximate latitude and longitude of Belize and the exact coordinates of specified places within it.

1.3 Compare the main inland, coastal and marine features of Belize.

The landscape of Belize is not the same in all places.

There are four main geographical regions: the Maya Mountains, the coastal plain, rolling hills and the cayes. The Maya Mountains are about seventy miles long. On their eastern and northern sides, they have steep slopes which fall from heights of more than three thousand feet almost to sea level. The natural vegetation of the Maya mountains is a combination of tropical pines and hardwoods. The two highest points in Belize are both in the Maya Mountains: Doyle’s Delight (3,688 feet) and Victoria Peak (3,680 feet).

The coastline of Belize is flat and swampy with many lagoons. There are large areas of coastal Belize that are home to very few people because much of this area is difficult to farm. Inland from the coast, the land of the northern districts is not completely flat. Instead, there are rolling hills. These hills are lower than the Maya Mountains. Much of Belize’s agriculture is in this area.

Rivers and streams are an important feature of all areas of the mainland. The rivers of the north tend to be larger and longer than the short, fast flowing rivers of the south. Limestone is the most common rock type of the land surface of Belize. Limestone is made from the skeletal remains of sea creatures that died millions of years ago. Rainwater erodes limestone leading to the creation of features such as caves and sink holes.

The cayes off the coast of mainland Belize are another, distinct, geographical region. Some cayes, such as Ambergris Caye are large enough to support permanent human settlements. Many of the smaller cayes are dominated by mangroves. They are home to many bird species. This area of Belize also includes three atolls: Glover’s Reef Atoll, Turneffe Atoll and Lighthouse Reef Atoll. All of the cayes are very low lying, with their highest point only a few feet above sea level. This makes them vulnerable to erosion and climate change.

1.4 Compare the districts, main cities, towns and selected villages of Belize.

A place can be described in many ways. Design a graphic organizer or create a short documentary comparing any two villages, towns, cities or districts, based on its:

total area in square miles or square kilometres
population
main natural features such as rivers and hills
transportation links including roads, airstrips, ferry and bus services
main streets
notable buildings
main economic activities

Useful Links:
Population of Belize
sib.org.bz/statistics/population/

Natural and Protected Areas of Belize
www.pactbelize.org/protected-areas/

Notable Buildings and Archaeological Sites
www.belizenet.com/must-see/cultural-and-historical-sites
https://nichbelize.org/museum-of-belize-and-houses-of-culture/
tbsl.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=08ce51ecfbe743148c0e112ea7723e71&webmap=33ee834bc51f4bb99b1b6cfcf9f1c644