Short facts about the geography of Belgium
| Location: |
Western Europe, bordering the North
Sea, between France and the Netherlands |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
50 50 N, 4 00
E |
| 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 |
| 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% |
| 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-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic
Seals, 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-Persistent
Organic Pollutants, 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 | Source: World Factbook |
