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50 interesting facts about Belize

Belize is a small Central American nation with a rich history and culture. With these 50 intriguing facts about Belize, research how the country has transitioned over the years; and learn about history, its culture, traditions, people, market, wildlife and much more.

Facts about Belizean culture and conventions

1. Believe it or not, but the nation’s most prized culinary food is Gibnut, a rodent called. Incidentally, it called the “royal rat” because it was served to Queen Elizabeth.
2. Belizeans are high-minded folks. The country recently passed a legislation decriminalising marijuana possession of up to 10 Gs.
3. Belize is also called the “Jewel in the heart of the Caribbean basin”.
4. The state also has some weird folklore characters. One of them, El Sisimito is a dwarf with a thumbnail complex. He has no thumb, and everyone else is cut off by him’s. He’s also notorious for his iconic red hat and silver guitar. Yes, the goblin with a guitar and a thumb cutting fetish!
5. The canopy of the woods has inspired the national motto of Belize which is “Under the Shade I Flourish”. It can be located everywhere and everything which is official.
6. Thumb locking is an indicator of greeting in Belize.
7. Belizeans are laid back individuals with a go-slow approach. Most of the state socialize a lot and live in small towns and villages.
8. More than 90% of the people of Belize can read and most can talk in three languages: English, Spanish, and Creole.
9. The national flower of Belize is the black orchid, a real black beauty indeed.
10. Belize food has no differentiation and spoils you with assortment and surprises. The culinary traditions are a mixture of various cultures like French, Spanish, American, Caribbean, Mexican, etc.
11. The Belize Barrier Reef holds more than 450 fish species and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s comprised of seven places that were protected; South Water Caye Marine Reserve, Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve, Blue Hole Natural Monument, Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, Glover’s Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, Laughing Bird Caye National Park and Reef Marine Reserve.
12. Haggling is uncommon in Belize and is usually considered rude, except at street markets.
13. Intriguing historical facts about Belize
14. Civil unrest was triggered by the launch of a brand new national budget in Belize with significant tax increases in 2005.
15. Remember the guys who erroneously called the world’s end, the Mayans? Well, Belize was a favored location for the Mayans.
16. The little Caribbean nation was an important source of lumber and a colony of the British Empire.
17. In fact, Belize got its current named just in 1973, when it gained independence from Britain. Before, it was known as British Honduras.
18. Ambergris Caye Island functioned as a hideaway for the boats attacking the Spanish fleet during the 17th century.
19. The foundation of the country was a love triangle between Belize- the UK and Guatemala. When Belize was declared by the UK as a country of 21 Guatemala broke off with Belize and the UK.
20. Guatemala, a nearby country, isn’t secure with Belize and always has it considered the entire territory of Belize as its “Department No. 23”.
21. Belize and Guatemala, both attempt to shame each other at international forums and also intend to hold referendums before the UN to validate their claims of the territory.
22. The present place of the state’s capital changed when Hurricane Hattie struck in 1961 on October 31st. Since then the capital was shifted 50 miles inland. At least 400 people were killed by the hurricane and demolished half of Belize City.
23. Belize is the conflation of several ethnic groups who came here at distinct points escaping prosecution, captivity, and war. Some are Garinagu, Mennonites, the Mestizo and Creole.
24. Philip Goldson (newspaper editor), Monrad Metzgen (politician) and George Cadle Price (Father of the Nation) are the three national heroes of Belize.
25. On September 10 -the national day of Belize is celebrated. On this day in 1798, the English, among the colonizers of Belize, conquered and repelled another colonizer, the Spanish. Since that time, the Belizeans observe what the English themselves don’t.
26. San Pedro, the second largest town in Belize District was founded in 1848. It was after co-authored by American pop vocalist Madonna, which afterward became a tremendous hit in the music world.
27. Belize’s market, tourism and natural draws
28. The country’s market is mainly determined by agriculture, agro-based industry, tourism, building and merchandising.
29. It’s the only state in Central America with no coastline on the North Pacific Ocean.
30. Belize has been losing woods at a speed of 10,000 hectares per year for the previous 30 years. The state to this day has lost woods region equal to the size of Rhode Island.
31. Belize has the 3rd highest per capita income in Central America.
32. Belize had a population increase rate of 1.87% per year in 2015, which is the second greatest in the region.
33. Belize is home to the second biggest barrier reef system in the world, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which is also referred to as Great Mayan Reef.
34. Belize is a favorite sunbaked heaven with some cool places to hang out. It’s the ONLY jaguar reserve on the planet, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.
35. You have to know; the rest are boring political stuff.
36. The Belize Defense Force (BDF) has a combined troop strength of 1400 personnel, spread over its army, navy, and air force. That than the Mc. Donald workforce.
37. But thankfully, Belize has bigger guns protecting her. It’s still the head of the state, and a commonwealth nation of the British is the queen of Buckingham place, her Majesty. Mess with Belize, you mess with the queen.
38. Belize is also known as the “Jewel in the heart of the Caribbean basin.”
39. This is what inspired Her Majesty to set up a British colony here. Incredibly prized for its ultra- outstanding timber, the tree can grow up to 100 meters and live well over a century.
40. About Belize’s national animal, tallest man-made construction, toxic cashews, hurricanes, sharks, etc
41. It’s known as tapir and looks like a giant Guiana pig, weighing over 500 pounds.
42. The greatest point of Belize is Doyle’s Delight, a tree covered mountain peak where many Jaguars lurk in the dark of the night.
43. The pyramid shaped El Castillo is the tallest man-made structure in Belize. A ghost referred to as “stone- woman”, who has fiery eyes and wears white clothing, is said to scale the stairs and mix with the temple wall.
44. The authorities protect more than 80% of the rainforests and are inaccessible.
45. Belize is filled with 450 cayes (pronounced keys), which are little islands. They’re the best technique for happiness.
46. In 2016, a Guatemalan minor was killed near the Belize border. This incident led to the deployment of 3000 additional troops by Guatemala on the Belize border.
47. The islands may have remained uninhabited for years, but each Caye has a watchman who is appointed by the authorities. This must be the mother of all pleasant occupations.
48. The woods here produce an incredible assortment of cashew trees. Some are deliciously edible while some are truly toxic.
49. The Great Blue Hole is the world’s largest sea sinkhole and a heaven for deep sea divers. It’s an enormous 407 feet deep and 984 feet across a depression in the center of the sea. It is also part of the larger Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System.
50. Jacques Cousteau, in 1971, a French naval officer became the first to dive into this sinkhole. His actual testimonial led to a tourism mania, with scuba enthusiasts flocking to discover the hole.
51. Superstition fact: it’s bad luck to swim on Good Friday in Belize.
52. Cocoa is another exotic gift Mother Nature. You can get memorable tours into the entire chocolate-making process at the Toledo Cacao Fest.
53. Belize has the lowest population density in Central America, of just 15 persons per square kilometer.

And as always have a chilled day from the Viking