Belize is a small nation in Central America, on the Caribbean Sea bordering Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west and south. Honduras lies 75 km away at the two nations' closest point across the Gulf of Honduras[?] to the east. In the Spanish language Belize is usually called Belice. Belize was formerly known as British Honduras and the current name is derived from Belize City and the Belize River. Belize City the country's largest town (and only city), the principal port and its former capital.
The north of Belize consists mostly of flat, swampy coastal plains, in places heavily forested. In the south is found the low mountain range of the Maya Mountains[?], of which the highest point in Belize is Victoria Peak[?] at 1,160 m. Belize is located in between the Hondo[?] and Sarstoon Rivers[?], with the Belize River[?] flowing down in the centre of the country. All along the Caribbean coast are found coral reefs or cays.
The local climate is tropical[?] and generally very hot and humid. The rainy season lasts from May to November and frequent natural hazards include hurricanes and flooding.
The small, essentially private enterprise economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming greater importance. Sugar, the chief crop, accounts for nearly half of exports, while the banana industry is the country's largest employer.
The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to GDP growth of 6.4% in 1999 and 10.5% in 2000. Growth decelerated in 2001 to 3% due to the global slowdown and severe hurricane damage to agriculture, fishing, and tourism. Major concerns continue to be the rapidly expanding trade deficit and foreign debt. A key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international donors.
English is the official language. Most Belizeans other than recent arrivals from neighboring countries have at least a working knowledge of English. English or Creole English predominates along the coast, and in the center and south of the country. In the west and north, the Spanish language is more widely spoken. Spanish is the native tongue of about 50% of the people and is spoken as a second language by another 20%. The various Maya groups still speak Maya languages, and an English Creole dialect, similar to the Creole dialects of the English-speaking Caribbean Islands, is spoken by most. Some communities in southern Belize mostly speak Garifuna[?].
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