In our last feature of our travel diary, we focused on DUBAI, a megalopolis built from the ground up. Today, we continue our diary with Belize, a Birdwatcher's Paradise. For a complete list of all bird species in Belize, reference to our Bird Watcher's List.

>>Belize boasts the largest coral reef formations in the Western hemisphere
>>Belize is an English speaking British Commonwealth country
>>Belize has a longstanding democratic tradition and independent judiciary.
>>There is a fixed exchange rate. US$1=BZ$2.
>>Belize is the only English speaking country in Central America.
>>Belize protects 60% of its tropical forests with over 500 species of birds.
>>Belize has the second largest barrier reef in the world.
>>Belize was once a center of the ancient Mayan world.
>>The Belize Government offers retirement advantages.

Official Name: Belize
Population (2008 est.): 301,022 (growth rate: 2.2%); birth rate: 27.8/1000; infant mortality rate: 23.7/1000; life expectancy: 68.1; density per sq mi: 13 - 25 persons per square kilometer
Labor Force: approximately 90,000
Land Area: 22,923 square kilometers or 8,867 square miles
Total area: 8,867 sq mi (22,966 sq km)Climate: Subtropical (dry and rainy season) Rainfall: Annual rainfall ranges from 60 inches in the North to 200 inches in the South Nationality: Belizean

Form of Government: Democratic - Bicameral Legislature
Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II
Governor-General: Sir Colville N. Young Sr.
Head of Government: Prime Minister, Hon. Said W. Musa
Major International Airport: Phillip S W Goldson International, 8 miles WNW of Belize City.
Business Hours: Usual business hours are 8:00 am - Noon, 1:00 pm - 5:00pm
Location: East Coast of Central America, bounded on the North by Mexico, on the South and West by Guatemala, and on the East by the Caribbean Sea
Capital and Major Cities & Towns: (Capital) Belmopan; (City) Belize City, (Towns) San Ignacio, Corozal, Orange Walk, Dangriga, Punta Gorda, San Pedro and Benque Viejo del Carmen

Official Language: English is the official language of the country.
Spanish and a Creole dialect are widely spoken as second languages. There are also a number of indigenous languages e.g. Creole, Garifuna, Mopan and Kechi.
Independence Day: September 21, 1981
Time Zone: EST -1; GMT -6
Country Code: 501
Communications: < Telephones: main lines in use: 33,300 (2003); mobile cellular: 60,400 (2003).
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998).
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997).
Internet hosts: 2,613 (2003).
Internet users: 30,000 (2002).

Transportation: Railways: 0 km.
Highways: total: 2,872 km; paved: 488 km; unpaved: 2,384 km (1999 est.).
Waterways: 825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2004).
Ports and harbors: Belize City.
Airports: 43 (2004 est.).
Literacy rate: 94% (2003 est.)
Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2004 est.): $1.778 billion; per capita $6,800.
Real growth rate: 3.8%.
Inflation: 3%.
Unemployment: 12.9% (2003).
Arable land: 3.05%.
Agriculture: bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments.
Labor force: 90,000; note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel; agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.).
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Industries: garment production, food processing, tourism, construction.
Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower.
Exports: $349.9 million f.o.b. (2005 est.): sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood.
Imports: $622.4 million f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco.
Major trading partners: U.S., UK, Jamaica , Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, China, Japan (2004).
Ethnicity/race: mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7%, Anglican 5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Mennonite 4%, Methodist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%), none 9%, other 14% (2000

Interested in learning more about these birds? Then hop on over to Wild Belize and listen to Sharon Motola's Podcasts.

For much more on Belize check out our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Want to take the next step? Find out Why Belize is the place for you.

See our own pictures as taken from our trip in April.

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