Bullet Tree Falls
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Bullet Tree Falls
|image_skyline = May 2017 Bullet Tree Falls aerial 17b.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = Aerial view of the main road in Bullet Tree Falls
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|pushpin_map = Belize
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|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{Flag|Belize}}
|subdivision_type1 = District
|subdivision_name1 = Cayo District
|subdivision_type2 = Constituency
|subdivision_name2 = Cayo North
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|population_as_of = 2010
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|timezone = Central
|utc_offset = -6
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|coordinates = {{coord|17.168|N|89.111|W|region:BZ|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_m = 69
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|blank_name = Climate
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Bullet Tree Falls is a village located along the Mopan River in Cayo District, Belize. It lies approximately five kilometers (three miles) northwest of San Ignacio.{{cite web|last=Pridgeon|first=Elizabeth|title=Bullet Tree Falls|url=http://www.belizetimes.bz/2010/02/19/bullet-tree-falls/|work=The Belize Times|date=19 February 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526181033/http://www.belizetimes.bz/2010/02/19/bullet-tree-falls/|archivedate=26 May 2011}}{{cite book|first1=Peter|last1=Eltringham|first2=John|last2=Fisher|first3=Iain|last3=Stewart|title=The Rough Guide to the Maya World: Guatemala, Belize, Southern Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador|year=2001|publisher=Rough Guides|location=London|isbn=1858287421|page=[https://archive.org/details/roughguidetomaya00pete/page/269 269]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/roughguidetomaya00pete/page/269}} According to the 2010 census, Bullet Tree Falls has a population of 2,124 people in 426 households. The population consists mainly of Spanish-speaking mestizos, along with a smaller number of Maya and Creoles.{{cite journal |last1=Gordon |first1=Andrew |title=Rastafarianism in Bullet Tree Falls, Belize: Exploring the Effects of International Trends |journal=Societies |date=28 February 2020 |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=1–16 |doi=10.3390/soc10010024|doi-access=free }} The village is governed by a seven-person village council.{{cite web|title=Village Council Election Results: Bullet Tree, Cayo District|url=http://elections.gov.bz/modules/article_publish/files/files_5d4257c7138c2.pdf|publisher=Elections and Boundaries Department, Government of Belize|accessdate=September 25, 2019|date=July 29, 2019|archive-date=September 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925200847/http://elections.gov.bz/modules/article_publish/files/files_5d4257c7138c2.pdf|url-status=dead}}
Demographics
At the time of the 2010 census, Bullet Tree Falls had a population of 2,124. Of these, 91.0% were Mestizo, 3.4% Mixed, 1.1% Creole, 1.0% Yucatec Maya, 0.9% Caucasian, 0.8% Mopan Maya, 0.7% Ketchi Maya, 0.3% East Indian and 0.1% Mennonite. Population & Housing Census [http://redatam.sib.org.bz/redbin/RpWebEngine.exe/Portal?BASE=BELIZECENSUS_2010&lang=eng]
History
Bullet Tree Falls was first established as a small logging camp in the 1800s.{{cite journal |last1=Sullivan |first1=Paul |title=The Founding and Growth of Bullet Tree Falls |journal=Belizean Studies |date=November 1978 |volume=6 |issue=6 |pages=1–22}} During the Caste War of Yucatán, many Maya families migrated to Bullet Tree Falls from villages further north such as El Chorro and Yaloch. By 1917, there were approximately one hundred and forty people living in the village in twenty-three households. During the early and mid 20th century, an influx of mestizos migrated to the village from Guatemala and Mexico, many of them working as chicleros. During the early days of the chicle and timber industries in Belize, the village was an important trading post.{{cite book|last1=Silva|first1=Hector David|title=Brief History of the Cayo District|date=July 2010|publisher=SEYT|page=74}}
The first Creoles settled in Bullet Tree Falls in the 1950s, arriving from San Ignacio.{{cite book|last1=Gordon|first1=Andrew J.|title=Agents of Change in Bullet Tree Falls: How a Village in Belize Responded to Influences of Globalization|date=2016|publisher=Wadsworth Publishing|isbn=1133604498|page=10}} In 1961, Hurricane Hattie caused significant damage to the village, destroying a school building and church.{{cite web|title=History of Immaculate Conception R. C. School |url=http://www.icrcs.primary.edu.bz/icrcs-history |publisher=Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic School |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602062727/http://www.icrcs.primary.edu.bz/icrcs-history |archivedate=2 June 2013 |url-status=dead }} During the 1960s and 1970s, several Mopan Maya families moved to Bullet Tree Falls from the Toledo District. By 1970, the population of the village had grown to approximately 700. In 1988, the Salvador Fernandez Bridge was completed, replacing an older wooden bridge.
Attractions
File:Tubing down the Mopan river in Bullet Tree Falls.JPG down the Mopan River is a popular tourist activity in Bullet Tree Falls.]]
Bullet Tree Falls has developed a small tourist economy facilitated by its location between San Ignacio and the El Pilar Maya archeological site. The village hosts several lodges and a small botanical garden.{{cite book|last=Vorhees|first=Mara|title=Lonely Planet Belize: Cayo District|year=2008|publisher=Lonely Planet|asin=B002RI96MG}} Buses between Bullet Tree Falls and San Ignacio run several times a day and taxi service is available to San Ignacio and El Pilar.
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Gallery
Bullet Tree Falls Community Center.jpg|The Community Center
Bullet Tree Falls bus stop.jpg|The main bus stop
May 2017 Bullet Tree Falls aerial 16b.jpg|Aerial view of the village
May 2017 Bullet Tree Falls aerial 13a.jpg|The Salvador Fernandez Bridge and Mopan River
References
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External links
{{commons category|Bullet Tree Falls}}
- [http://localwiki.net/belize/Bullet_Tree_Falls Bullet Tree Falls] at Belize LocalWiki
- [http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=16/17.1692/-89.1121 Map of Bullet Tree Falls] at OpenStreetMap