Belmopan, Belize

Parliament of Belize, Belmopan
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Belmopan_Parliament.jpg
Author: Haakon S. Krohn


Belmopan, a city in central Belize, is the capital of the country. A city of 20,000 people (2011 estimate), it was to be the capital city when British Honduras gained independence and was renamed Belize.

The choice of Belmopan as the capital of Belize was decided by geography and natural. In 1961, a massive hurricane destroyed three quarters of Belize City. That and the fact that Belize City - then capital of British Honduras - was prone to floods, lack land for further expansion and required costly reclamation of the sea, compelled the government to look for a better site to located the capital.

In 1962, a year after the hurricane disaster, a committee recommended Belmopan as the capital in place of Belize City. It is located 80 km (50 mi) from the Caribbean coast and 76 m (250 ft) above sea level. This places it further away from hurricanes as well as floodings. Moreover it has a more pleasant climate.

The name Belmopan was created as a portmanteau of Belize and Mopan River, a tributary of the Belize River. Funding for creating the new city was sought from the British, as at that time, British Honduras was still a British colony. Work on the new city began in 1967, but it was some time before the major embassies relocate there - the US Embassy only did so in 2006.

Visiting Belmopan

To reach Belmopan from overseas, you still have to arrive at the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize City, and from there take a bus or taxi to Belmopan.

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