Central America¶
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Belize¶- Coins
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Belize -- the country formerly known as British Honduras -- is a nice place to visit. The United Nations supported the people of Belize in 1975, and asked Britain and Guatemala to figure things out. They did, and independence came in 1981. Belize is home to hundreds of species of colourful birds, some of which are celebrated on their coins.
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Nicaragua¶- Coins
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The Republic of Nicaragua is the largest Central American country, with just over 130,000 km2 of territory. Nicaragua has an abundance of biologically significant and unique ecosystems. The country was conquered by the Spanish in the early 16th century. In the early 19th century it briefly became part of the Mexican Empire, then became an independent republic in 1838.The United States became actively involved in the country in the early 20th century, helping to support the Somoza family dynasty, a strong-arm dictatorship that lasted from 1936 to 1979. Then there were the revolutionary Sandanistas and the US-backed Contras, which you will have to read about at the link below.
With a mainly agricultural economy, Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in the Americas. At the start of the 21st century, tourism became a huge growth industry. People come for the beaches, scenery, architecture, ecotourism, and agritourism.
