Belize City

Belize City, capital (1993 est. pop. 47,724) of Belize dist., Belize, at the mouth of the Belize River, on the Caribbean Sea. The river flows c.180 mi (290 km) generally west and is navigable almost to Guatemala. It is the country's major port and has deepwater facilities. Sugar, timber, and wood products are exported from Belize City. Tourism and fish packing are the main industries. The city was devastated by hurricanes in 1931, 1961, and 1978. It was the capial of Belize until 1970, when the government moved to the new city of Belmopan.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Belize Political Geography