| Location: |
Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
|
| Geographic coordinates: |
17 15 N, 88 45 W
|
| Map references: |
Central America and the Caribbean
|
| Area: |
total:
22,966 sq km
land:
22,806 sq km
water:
160 sq km
|
| Area - comparative: |
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
|
| Land boundaries: |
total:
516 km
border countries:
Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
|
| Maritime claims: |
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea:
12 NM in the north, 3 NM in the south; note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 NM; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala
|
| Climate: |
tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
|
| Terrain: |
flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
|
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:
Victoria Peak 1,160 m
|
| Natural resources: |
arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
|
| Land use: |
arable land:
10%
permanent crops:
1%
permanent pastures:
2%
forests and woodland:
84%
other:
3% (2000 est.)
|
| Irrigated land: |
20 sq km (1993 est.)
|
| Natural hazards: |
frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
|
| Environment - current issues: |
deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid waste disposal
|
| Environment - international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
|
| Geography - note: |
only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
|
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