Belmopan was constructed just to the east of Belize River, 80 km (50 miles) inland from the former capital, the port of Belize City, after that city's near destruction by a hurricane in 1961. The government was moved to Belmopan in 1970. The National Assembly Building is designed to resemble a Pre-Columbian Maya temple. Belmopan is located off of the Hummingbird Highway, one of the most picturesque highways in all of Central America. Belmopan is one of the world's smaller capital cities.
