History & Wildlife
The first people to develop Belize were the Maya, who established a number of settlements beginning around 1500 B.C. Some of the more notable sites include Caracol, Lamanai, and Lubaantun. The first European contact with Belize occurred in 1502 when Christopher Columbus reached the area’s coast. In 1638, the first European settlement was established by England, and for 150 years, many more English settlements were formed. In 1840, Belize became a “Colony of British Honduras” and in 1862, it became a Crown Colony. For one hundred years thereafter, Belize was a representative government of England, but in 1964, full self-government with a ministerial system was granted. In 1973, the region’s name was changed from British Honduras to Belize, and on September 21, 1981, full independence was achieved.
Maya
The Maya were the first settlers in Belize to establish human civilization, from as early as 1500 B.C., and there is still a sizeable population to this day. The Maya believe deeply in the cyclical nature of life, and their iconic pyramids were built as replicas of the Great mountain of the Gods, known as Witzob.
Barrier Reef
The UNESCO World Heritage Belize Barrier Reef spans along about 190 miles of Belize’s coastline. The waters host nearly every species of fish found in the Caribbean, plus an amazing variety of sponges and over 40 species of coral, from hard elkhorn to staghorn.
Conservation
Belize has enacted many environmental protection laws aimed at the preservation of the country's natural and cultural heritage, as well as its wealth of natural resources. Roughly 26% (2.6 million acres, or 1.22 million hectares) of Belizean land and sea is preserved within a total of 95 reserves, two of which are the Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve encompassing 15,530 acres on northern Ambergris Caye; and Hol Chan Marine Reserve, consisting of 4,448 acres of protected Marine Reserve, enveloping Six Senses Belize.
