Sarteneja

Sarteneja
Village
Village of Sarteneja
Beachfront of Sarteneja Beachfront of Sarteneja
Nickname(s): Sarten
Sarteneja Location of Sarteneja in Corozal District, Belize
Coordinates:
Country	Belize
District	Corozal District
Constituency	Corozal South East
Sarteneja	1847
Government
• Chairman	Paulino Lucio Guerrero (PUP)
Area
• Total	90.33 km2 (34.88 sq mi)
Elevation	2-4 m (−11 ft)
Population (2010)
• Total	1,824
Demonym(s)	Sartenejeño(a)
Time zone	Central (UTC-6)
Climate	Aw

File:Sarteneja North Front.JPG

Sarteneja North Front at Sunset

Sarteneja, first known as "Tza-ten-a-ha", is the largest fishing community in Belize. This community is also the second most largest village, after San Narciso, in the Corozal District and recorded a population of 1,824 according to the 2010 census. The name "Sarteneja" is a distortion of its original Mayan name, "Tza-ten-a-ha", to Castilian Spanish both meaning "water between the rocks".

It is located on the Sarteneja Peninsula, approximately forty miles by road from Orange Walk Town and is near the privately owned Shipstern Conservation & Management Area. The village's economy is based primarily on fishing for lobster, conch and finfish. There are many farmers, particularly retired fishermen that develop their farmland with agriculture. Recently, tourism is becoming increasingly significant as a source of income or at least as another alternative livelihood for those no longer interested in extracting the aforementioned species but instead help with their conservation or even with their sustainable exploitation.

Most of Sarteneja's inhabitants are of Yucatec Maya Mestizo ancestry. The majority of the villagers prepare to welcome the "Finados" or "Día de los Muertos" or "All Souls' Day" which begins on November 1. This is dedicated to the dead children that become angels when they die on that day it is believed that they come back to find treats and food left by their relatives. November 2 is dedicated to the adults who have died. They are welcomed by their family members with prayers bread and food, these would be prepared according to their favorite dish they loved when they were alive.