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Today’s photo of the week is of a modest home in Belize. These wooden houses sitting on top of stilts are a common sight all over Belize’s islands and much of the eastern coast on the mainland. When I asked why they build on stilts I was given different answers from several different guides.
- The country sits barely above sea level and is hit by tropical storms and hurricanes often. The stilts keep homes from being flooded.
- Being raised up from ground level helps get more wind circulation and keeps the home cooler.
- To keep out bugs and creepy crawlies.
They all sound like good reasons to me! This was my first trip abroad and I was a little shocked to see this was how so many people lived. More than 40% of the country lives in poverty, and the average income is only around $8,400 (USD).
