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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 Warm, Sultry Land Cooled by Sea Breezes
11
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.