Orange Walk District

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Map of Belize showing Orange Walk District

Orange Walk District is a district in the northwest of the nation of Belize, with its district capital in Orange Walk Town. Other towns and significant villages in Orange Walk District include Carmelita, Guinea Grass Town, San Estevan, San Jose, San Pablo, Shipyard, Indian Church, San Carlos and Trial Farm. Orange Walk District also includes the ancient Maya ruin of Lamanai, and the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area, a large private nature reserve.

According to the 2000 census, Orange Walk District had a population of 39,760 people.

Orange Walk district is the third-largest district in the country. The capital of the district is Orange Walk Town, also known by the locals as "Sugar City" (pronounced shuga city). The district is home to mostly Maya mestizo people, descendants of Mexican refugees who fled from the 1840 Caste War. The district's main economic base is drawn from agriculture, with sugar cane being the primary crop. This is slowly being replaced by a combination of alternative crops such potatoes, onions and soya beans. Another emerging industry is tourism. Several settlements in the district are home to German Mennonites, creole people, and maya ketchi people. The district is alo the home of two rivers, the Rio Hondo, which also forms part of the border with Mexico, and the New River. In this district you can also find Belize's largest body of water, The New River Lagoon.