Toledo District
| Toledo District | |
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| — District — | |
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| Country |  Belize |
| Capital | Punta Gorda |
| Population (2010)[1] | |
| • Total | 30,538 |
Toledo District is the southernmost district in Belize, and Punta Gorda the District capital. Although the least developed region in the country, it features some of the most pristine rainforests, extensive cave networks, coastal lowland plains, and offshore cays. Toledo is home to a wide range of cultures—from Mopan and Kekchi Maya, to Creole, the Garifuna, East Indians, Mennonites, Mestizos, and descendants of US Confederate settlers.
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[edit] Geography
The District has many villages, including Monkey River Town and the Toledo Settlement, the Maya villages of San Pedro Columbia, Blue Creek (home to Tumul Kin Center of Learning), Indian Creek, Santa Cruz, San Antonio, San Jose, San Felipe, and the Garifuna village of Barranco. According to the 2010 census, Toledo District had a population of 30,538 people.
[edit] Economy
The economy of Toledo relies heavily upon agriculture: crops grown include beans and corn, as well as rice which is sold to the Big Falls Rice Mill. Cacao is grown organically and sold via the Toledo Cacao Growers Association to Green & Black’s for their renowned Maya Gold chocolate, as well as to chocolatiers within Belize. The District’s ancient and modern-day links with chocolate are celebrated annually in May (Commonwealth Day Holiday weekend) at the Toledo Cacao Festival. Farmers grow additional crops such as coffee, yams, sweet potato, chili, hot peppers, avocado, oranges and plantain for sale at the market in Punta Gorda, held each Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Fishermen practice small-scale fishing from their dug-out canoes, as well as diving for lobster and conch during open season. The Port Honduras Marine Reserve just north of Punta Gorda Town is a protected area, and Toledo’s waters are regarded as the permit capital of Belize. Many traditional fishermen have now trained as fly-fishing guides through the alternative livelihood projects offered by local conservation groups.
Tourism is an important, and relatively new, industry for Toledo. Once regarded as an area only for the hardy and adventurous, the opening of new tourist accommodation and the development of tours, as well as a growing awareness of the district’s high proportion of protected areas, wildlife, excellent birding and the offshore cayes, have resulted in Toledo being recognized as an important ‘emerging destination’.
[edit] Transportation
The Toledo District is served by the newly-paved Southern Highway, as well as several bush roads to the many rural villages in the District. A regular bus service is provided by Punta Gorda-based James Bus Line, and Punta Gorda Town is served by several daily commuter flights on Tropic Air and Maya Island Air.
[edit] Notable architecture
Several significant ancient Mayan sites are extant in ruined form in the Toledo District. Nim Li Punit is a Classic Period Mayan site[2] with ballcourts and carved stelae. Lubaantun is a drystone constructed site with ruined pyramids and stone tombs.[3]
[edit] Notable People
- Wil Maheia, Leader, People's National Party - Pulcheria Teul, Government Senator, United Democratic Party - Mike Espat, Deputy Leader, People's United Party - Kenny Jacobs, Executive Director, Teens Belize Organization - Shari Williams, Queen of the Bay 1998 - Hon. Eden Martinez, Area Rep. Minister of Social Transformation - Hon. Juan Coy, Minister of State, -
[edit] See also
- The Forgotten District, a documentary film about Toledo's ecotourism
[edit] Reference line notes
- ^ "Preliminary Findings of 2010 Census". Statistical Institute of Belize. http://www.statisticsbelize.org.bz/dms20uc/dynamicdata/docs/20110411221857_2.pdf.
- ^ Nim Li Punit, published by the Department of Archaeology, Belmopan, Belize, Project ACP-RPR 544, Cubola Productions, March, 1999
- ^ C.Michael Hogan, Lubaantun, 2007, The Megalithic Portal, editor: A. Burnham
[edit] External links
- Official website - with maps and area attractions
- Toledo District at belize.fm
- The Toledo Howler - quarterly newspaper published by the BTIA Toledo Chapter
- How to Cook a Tapir - a Belize memoir, documenting the author's year-long working honeymoon in the Toledo District
- Treehouse Perspectives - Living High on Little - the story of the Salisbury family's move and new life in Punta Gorda
- Governmental influence on ecotourism in Toledo - Influence or interference?
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