Belize River
| Belize River | ||
 View of the Belize River |
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| Data | ||
| location | Belize | |
| River system | Belize River | |
| origin | Confluence of the Mopan and Macal Rivers 17 ° 10 ′ 30 ″ N , 89 ° 4 ′ 50 ″ W |
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| muzzle | north of Belize City in the Caribbean Sea Coordinates: 17 ° 32 ′ 0 ″ N , 88 ° 14 ′ 0 ″ W 17 ° 32 ′ 0 ″ N , 88 ° 14 ′ 0 ″ W |
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| Mouth height |
0 m
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| length | 290 km | |
| Catchment area | 5000 km² | |
The Belize River ( Spanish: Río Belice ) is a 290 km long river in Belize that drains more than a quarter of the country.
location
The Belize flows along the north side of the Maya Mountains through the middle of the country of Belize and flows into the Caribbean Sea near Belize City . About 45 percent of Belize's population live in the catchment area of the Belize River and Mopan River. Belize, also known as the "Old River", is navigable up to the border with Guatemala and served as the main artery for trade and communication between the coast and the inland well into the 20th century.
The Belize River begins at the confluence of the Mopan River and Macal River east of San Ignacio and flows through the Belize River Valley, which is largely covered by tropical rainforest. For a long time, the river was used for forestry , in particular for the mining of mahogany .
The Belize River is an important source of drinking water for the people living on its banks. However, the water quality is limited by sediments , pesticides and other pollutants. The main reason for the deterioration is massive deforestation in the upper reaches of the Mopan River and unsustainable agriculture. The slash-and-burn operation carried out by residents in order to gain areas for cultivation contributes to water deterioration.
Itemized list
- ↑ Belize River | river, Guatemala-Belize . In: Encyclopedia Britannica . ( britannica.com [accessed December 19, 2016]).
- ↑ Frontiers Travel: Belize River Lodge | Saltwater | Frontiers Travel. In: www.frontierstrvl.co.uk. Retrieved December 19, 2016 .