Some facts about Belize from Ambergriscaye.com:
Belize, only 8,867 square miles in size, is situated on the northeast coast of Central America. The Caribbean Sea lies to the east and from the air its turquoise waters are clear, allowing the multicolored coral formation of the Great Barrier Reef to be easily observed. Coral islands called cayes, covered with stands of mangrove trees, dot the coast. Lying in aquamarine and jade-colored bays, these cayes protect the jungled coastline from the ravages of the sea.Belize currently has 220,000 people, 4000 on Ambergris Caye. At the high point of the Maya population, the whole of Belize including Ambergris Caye had 2,000,000 people. Ambergris Caye’s population has a larger Mestizo percentage because of its proximity to the Yucatan.
Some facts about Amergris Caye (where we will be ministering during the mission trip):
While politically part of Belize, Ambergris Caye has more in common, geographically and culturally with Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. If the Maya hadn’t enlarged and dredged a canal at the north end of the caye, Ambergris Caye might be part of Mexico today.Because of geography and history Ambergris Caye has a culture that is all it’s own. Yes it’s Belize, in the same way that Seattle, WA and Dallas, TX are the USA. Describing Seattle won’t help you understand Dallas. Same thing with all the separate parts of Belize. It may only be the size of New Hampshire, but it is incredibly diverse, exciting, and worthy of your exploration. But understanding Belize won’t get you prepared for this tropical paradise.The island is a 25 mile long, flat, coral sand island, protected on the east by a living reef that extends 185 miles down the coast of Belize. Ambergris is the southern most extension of the Yucatan Penisula, a unique Penisula of porous limestone.Ambergris Caye is a narrow island with the lagoon on the west and the reef on the east. San Pedro Town is the only town on the island, located at a narrow point of the island, and from the air traveler’s perspective, right at the end of the runway. Click here for fairly complete descriptions of the major areas of Belize. Southern Barrier Reef Islands, Atolls, Northern Atolls, and Mainland areas.
