Xaibe | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 18°23′N 88°26′W / 18.383°N 88.433°W | |
Country | Belize |
District | Corozal District |
Government | |
• Type | Village Council |
• Body | Xaibe Village Council |
• Chairman | Luciano Noh |
Area | |
• City | 14.245 km2 (8.852 sq mi) |
• Land | 14.245 km2 (8.852 sq mi) |
• Water | 0 km2 (0 sq mi) 0% |
• Urban | 5.010 km2 (8.061 sq mi) |
Elevation | 14.0208 m (46 ft) |
Population (2010) | |
• City | 1,575 |
Time zone | Central (UTC-6) |
Xaibe (/ʃaɪˈbeɪ/) is small rural settlement in the country of Belize mainly consisting of people from the Yucatec Maya ethnicity. It is located in Corozal District. The name Xaibe literally means 'crossroads'. The people of the Maya civilization often traversed across the village to reach other Maya villages. The population of the village is very small. The last available data of the population of Xaibe in 2010 revealed that it had a modest population of approximately 1,575 people. There is, however, evidence of the fact that the people belonging to the Maya civilization resided in the Xaibe village. These people then gradually shifted to Mexico, just across the border at the time of the Caste War of Yucatán. The village is known for celebrating the Maya tradition Hanal Pixan which means "food for the souls" also known as Day of the Dead.
Because of its location on the Caribbean coastline, it is vulnerable to tropical cyclones; Hurricane Janet and Hurricane Dean, both Category 5 storms, made landfall near Xaibe village in 1955 and 2007 respectively. The village was badly damaged by Hurricane Janet in 1955 and was substantially rebuilt.
The nearest airports to the region include the San Pedro International Airport which is only 3 mi (4.82 km) away, the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport being 60 mi (96.5 km) far and the Chetumal International Airport located 10 mi(16.09 km) away at neighboring country Mexico. The cities and towns close to Xaibe are Xcanluum, Patchakan, Chan Chen, Carolina, Calcutta, San Antonio, Ranchito and San Andres. Xaibe is also located only 2.5 mi (4 km) from the District's Capital, Corozal Town located at the Corozal bay.