9781422286517

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A Warm, Sultry Land Cooled by Sea Breezes

swamp. Deciduous trees are found in the north; tropical hardwood trees are com- mon in the south. The types of trees that are commercially important in Belize include mahogany, cedar, and rosewood, as well as pine, oak, and palms. The forests provide habitats for many differ- ent kinds of animals, including jaguar, deer, puma, ocelot, armadillo, tapir, croc- odile, and numerous species of reptiles. Keel-billed toucans can be found perched in tree branches as can an abundance of squawking macaws and parrots. Belize by Region The northern half of the mainland of Belize is a plain that was once the floor of a sea. As a result, the land has been exposed to air for only a short time in geological history, and is covered with just a thin layer of soil. Scrub vegetation grows here, and dense forest. The central part of Belize consists of sandy soil that supports large savannas . Then, about 30 miles southwest of Belize

A majestic waterfall drops through pristine jungle in the interior of Belize. Most of the country—about two-thirds, in fact— remains wild, unspoiled land.