Belize is bordered by Mexico on the north and by Guatemala on the south and west. Belize is a land of mountains, swampy lowlands, and tropical jungle. The Maya Mountains form a plateau in the south. Lowlands lie along the coast, and jungle covers most of the interior. The climate is subtropical with a dry season from February to May and a rainy season from June to November.
Hurricanes occasionally cause extensive damage.
After Belize City, the former capital, was devastated by a 1961 hurricane, construction of Belmopan began in 1966, financed by a British grant. Government operations moved there in 1970. Although English is the official language, the Creole dialect, Spanish, and several Indian dialects are also spoken. A majority of the people of Belize earn their living from agriculture. Fishing and forestry are other important sources of income.