Geography
The Northern half of Belize consists of lowlands. The South and West are dominated by mountain ranges, most notably the heavily forested Maya mountains, which rise up to 3,675 ft. The Cockscomb range lies to the East, and the Mountain Pine Ridge to the West. More than 65 per cent of the country is swathed in forests. Deciduous trees are found in the north; tropical hardwood trees predominate in the south. Principal species include the commercially important mahogany, cedar, and rosewood, as well as pine, oak, and palms. Wildlife includes jaguar, deer, tapir, and numerous species of birds and reptiles. The principal rivers are the Belize River; the Ri­o Azul, which forms much of the boundary with Mexico; and the Sarstin River, which forms the South-Western boundary with Guatemala.

The Caribbean coastline comprises many salt and freshwater lagoons, palm-fringed white sandy beaches and numerous idyllic small islands (Cayes). The shallow offshore Cayes straddle a coral reef second only in size to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

Climate
The climate of Belize is subtropical, moderated by sea breezes along the coast. The average annual temperature is about 26° C (about 79° F). The busy winter tourist period covers the dry season, which runs from November to May, although the wetter summer months are still popular as prices are lower.

Government
Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor-General Sir Colville Young since 1993.
Head of Government: Prime Minister: Dean Barrow (since Feb 2008)

Belize is governed under a constitution that became effective at independence in 1981. The British sovereign is head of state and is represented by a governor-general. Executive power is mainly exercised by a cabinet of ministers, led by a prime minister. The bicameral National Assembly consists of a Senate of 8 appointed members and a House of Representatives of 29 members elected by universal suffrage to terms of up to five years. The prime minister must have the support of a majority of the members of the House. The leading political parties are the Peoples United Party (PUP, 1950) and the United Democratic Party (UDP, 1974). The judiciary is independent of government and the Court of last appeal is the Privy Council in London.

Population, education, language & religion
The majority of the population of Belize is of mixed racial descent. Groups include Native Americans, principally Carib and Maya, located in the north and west; people of European descent, mainly English and Spanish; and people of mixed Native American-European descent.

The population of Belize is 290,000 (UN 2007). The overall density of 12 persons per sq km (30 per sq mi) is the lowest in Central America. Population is concentrated in a few principal urban centres, of which Belize City (population in 2000 was 49,050) is the largest; it is also the principal port. Belmopan (8,130), a newly constructed city, supplanted Belize City as the official capital in 1972.

English is the official language; other languages spoken include Carib, Mayan, Spanish, and a Creole dialect of English. More than half the people are Roman Catholic, and most of the remainder are Protestant.

Education is compulsory for children between the ages of 5 and 14. Higher education is available at colleges in Belize City and Corozal. The literacy rate of 93 percent is one of the highest in Latin America.

Belize Real Estate