Belize Geography – Where Is Belize?
Belize is located on the Caribbean coast of northern Central America. It shares a border on the north with the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, on the west with the Guatemalan department of El Petén, and on the south with the Guatemalan department of Izabal. Izabal in Guatemala features the beautiful tourist city of Puerto Barrios. To the east in the Caribbean Sea, the second-longest barrier reef in the world flanks much of the 386 kilometers (240 mi) of predominantly marshy coastline. Above: Belize Map. The area of the country totals 22,960 square kilometers (8,860 sq. mi), an area twice the size of Jamaica, and slightly larger than El Salvador or Massachusetts. The abundance of lagoons along the coasts and in the northern interior reduces the actual land area to 21,400 square kilometers (8,300 sq. mi). Being a small country, it is no wonder most people need to ask Where Is Belize? The land area of Belize extends about 280 kilometers (170 mi) north-south and about 100 kilometers (62 mi)