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Belize
Belize (formerly British Honduras) is an independent country in Central America - a kingdom (a Commonwealth realm) with the British Queen Elizabeth II as head of state - and borders Mexico to the northwest and Guatemala to the south and west. To the east it borders the Caribbean Sea. The country is a member of the British Commonwealth.
The country has few height differences. The Philip Goldson International Airport is located approximately 15 km north of Belize City. English (official), Spanish, Q'eqchi', Mopan, Yucatec Maya, Plautdietsch and Garifuna are spoken in the country. The country is located on the Caribbean Sea, and has a number of islands there, including Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker and the Turneffe Islands. Most islands (but not the largest island Ambergris Caye) are coral islands.
History
The country was inhabited by Mayans before the arrival of the Spanish. In the 17th century the area was colonized by British timber traders and pirates.
As British Honduras, it formally became a British colony in 1840, even though it was claimed by Mexico and Guatemala. Hurricane Hattie caused a lot of damage to Belize in 1961. The government then decided that having a capital below sea level was too risky. After a few years, the new capital Belmopan was designed, in the precise geographical center of the country. The relocation of government buildings began in the 1970s.
In 1964, British Honduras was granted internal self-government and in June 1973 it was renamed Belize. However, effective authority remained in the hands of the governor from Great Britain. The People's United Party, led by George Cadle Price, led the independence movement. On September 21, 1981, after delays due to territorial disputes with Guatemala, Belize became independent from the United Kingdom. The new state continued to experience border conflicts. There was even a British garrison left behind for protection. It wasn't until 1991 that Guatemala recognized Belize. However, until now there is a border dispute between the two countries. Many Guatemalan maps depict Belize (or part of it) as a department of Guatemala.
On January 20, 2005, unrest broke out due to tax increases.