Belmopan

Belmopan is the capital of Belize, a nation noted for its rich cultural legacy and unspoiled beauty. Belmopan’s 16,451 population as of 2010 made it the smallest capital city in the continental Americas. Though small, it is the third-largest settlement in Belize after Belize City and San Ignacio. Belmopan, which started out as a planned community in 1970, is among the most modern national capitals around. Having official city status alongside Belize City since 2000, it reflects growing importance within the national setting.

Situated 76 meters (249 feet) above sea level in the Cayo District, Belmopan has Strategically east of the Belize River, roughly 80 kilometers (50 miles) inland from Belize City, the city was The severe effects of Hurricane Hattie in 1961, which destroyed almost 75% of the homes and businesses in low-lying Belize City, spurred the move. The government moved to Belmopan in 1970 in search of a safer and more environmentally friendly national capital. Reflecting the historical legacy of the country, Belmopan’s National Assembly Building is architecturally modeled to resemble a Pre-Columbian Maya temple.

Strategically placed close to the Belize River Valley, Belmopan is 50 miles inland from the Caribbean Sea and provides views of the Mountain Pine Ridge foothills. Relative to coastal areas, this location has a lower nighttime temperature. The city is easily reachable from the Hummingbird Highway, so serving as a handy base from which to travel within Belize. Two and a half hours south by road, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is a shining example of the great diversity in this region and commitment to preservation.

The need for a site on higher ground free of the costly process of land reclamation and sheltered from storm surges drove the construction of a new capital. A committee assigned the location now known as Belmopan—which is 82 kilometers southwest of Belize City—in 1962. Belize was a British colony during this time, under the direction of Premier George Cadle Price who oversaw efforts to get British government financial support. Though first dubious, the British accepted the justification for the choice. To underline their dedication, Premier Price asked Commonwealth and Colonial Secretary Anthony Greenwood to visit Belize. Unvelled during this visit, a monument marks the commitment of the new capital site on October 9, 1965.

The name “Belmopan” comes from a combination of “Mopan,” a local river feeding into the Belize River, and “Belize,” the longest river in the country. Only half of the 40 million Belize dollars (about 20.5 million USD) the city’s estimated construction cost was initially projected to be accessible. Overcoming financial restrictions, building started in 1967 and finished the first phase in 1970 at a cost of 24 million Belize dollars (about 12 million USD). The Reconstruction and Development Corporation, sometimes known as “Recondev,” managed basic municipal operations between 1970 and 2000.

Foreign governments first showed reluctance to move their embassies to Belmopan because of residual questions about its suitability as the capital. While the U.S. embassy opened in 2006, the British High Commission was founded in 1981, at Belize’s independence. Currently, Belmopan has embassies of several countries including Mexico, Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Venezuela. Still, Belize City is the main place the foreign diplomatic community for the country resides.

Belmopan’s urban layout revolves around the Ring Road, with a 4 kilometer (2.5 mile) circumference. Most government buildings are located in or close by this area, which also includes parkland. With its architecture reflecting the Mayan legacy of the country, the National Assembly Building forms the focal point of the city’s design. The nearby buildings accentuate this theme by capturing the core of a Mayan plaza from long ago.

Belmopan’s original buildings were built with notable ventilation to suit the tropical environment, which resulted in a distinctive pock-marked wall look. But the arrival of air conditioning has reduced the efficacy of these designs, which calls for major internal renovations to improve performance.