Belize is a country located on the eastern coast of Central America by the Caribbean Sea. Its capital, Belmopan, was founded in 1970. The former colony of British Honduras was renamed Belize in 1973 and gained independence as a republic within the British Commonwealth in 1981. The official language is English. It is the smallest mainland state in America by population. From the 3rd century, Belize was part of the Mayan territory until the destruction of this civilization in the 16th century. The indigenous people of Belize are the Mayan Indians. The second longest coral reef in the world with a length of 320 km stretches along the coast of the country. It is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Up to 37 % of the country's territory is protected in some form. Major tourist attractions include coral reefs and Mayan monuments.