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Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between
France and the Netherlands
Geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 30,510 sq km
land: 30,230 sq km
water: 280 sq km
Area - comparative: about the size of Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 1,385 km
border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg
148 km, Netherlands 450 km
Coastline: 66 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: median line with neighbors
exclusive fishing zone: median line with neighbors (extends
about 68 km from coast)
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid,
cloudy
Terrain: flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling
hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: North Sea 0 m
highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m
Natural resources: coal, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 21%
other: 34%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed
coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
Environment - current issues: the environment is exposed
to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense
transportation network, industry, intense animal breeding and crop
cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for
neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional
responsibilities (now resolved) have impeded progress in tackling
environmental challenges
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber
83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur
94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol
Geography - note: crossroads of Western Europe; majority
of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the
seat of both the EU and NATO
Geography
Belgium is located at the Western Europe, bordering the North Sea,
between France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, and Netherlands
450 km. Total area includes 1,385 km.
Climate
The climate near the sea is humid and mild. Farther inland, away
from the moderating maritime influences, a marked increase in the
range of temperature occurs.
In the Ardennes region hot summers alternate with cold winters.
Heavy rains are confined almost exclusively to the highlands. Fog
and drizzle are common, and April and November are particularly
rainy months.
In Brussels, located at the center of the nation, the average temperatures
range from -1° to 4° C (30° to 40° F) in January and 12° to 23°
C (54° to 73° F) in July. In Oostende, on the coast, the average
range is 1° to 5° C (33° to 41° F) in January and 13° to 20° C (56°
to 67° F) in July.
Rainfall in Brussels is uniformly spread throughout the year,
with a yearly average of about 860 mm (about 34 in); annual precipitation
in Oostende averages about 600 mm (about 24 in).
Background: Belgium became independent from the Netherlands
in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II.
It has prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically
advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU.
Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the
French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to
constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition
and autonomy.
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