Belize is wedged into the northeast corner of the Central American, Caribbean coast, bordered by Mexico and Guatemala. The total area is 22,960 kilometers (including the mainland and the keys). Measuring from north to south, 280 kilometers and from east to west, 109, it is one of the smallest nations in Central America and the only one colonized by the English. Half of the territory is taken up by dense jungle, full of wildlife, and is, in many respects, much like the Amazon area.
The countrys main attractions are the keys, the atolls, the famous Blue Holes, and the coral reef which offers divers an amazing scenario. The keys are islands located between the mainland and the barrier reef. They are excellent places for diving, snorkeling, fishing, and trips by boat, kayak, or sailing vessels. The favorite spots are the Turneffe Islands, Lighthouse Reef, Glover Atoll, and Ambergris Key. The atolls and the keys are reproducing grounds for birds and sea turtles. The Coral Reef, 298 kilometers in length, is the second longest barrier reef in the world following only the Australian Barrier Reef.
Belize possesses three of only four atolls in the Atlantic Ocean (the fourth, in Roca, Brazil) The Blue Hole is the most famous of the three, located twenty-three kilometers out from the coast in the center of the Lighthouse Reef Atoll. The reef is a natural work of art with a diameter of 33 kilometers, and a depth of 135 meters. Sea turtles, sharks, crustaceans, and tropical fish make this region one of the largest natural sights.
The trees in the keys offer a natural habitat for birds as well as for marine life. Many birds, fish, oysters, and marine organisms begin their lives in the shelter of these trees. Belize is an excellent destination for avid bird watchers.
The northern area of the mainland consists primarily of the level coastal plains and swamp lands covered with a light, fine layer of soil which supports creeping vegetation and dense tropical jungle. The coastal areas are characterized by grass and trees, encircled by cypress and sycamores where the water meets the land. The central region houses savannas which are between 45.72 and 112.17 centimeters above sea level. The south of Belize, from its river system in the extreme south to the Maya Mountains, consists of small rivulets that run down from the peaks.
The district of Cayo, located in the western interior of the county, includes Pine Ridge Mountain, whose altitude fluctuates between 305 and 917 meters above sea level. The northern districts are characterized by a considerable area of plateau. Belize has various rivers which bubble the sounds of tranquility; some are navigable, for small distances, by boat.
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