Short facts about the geography of Belize

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

Coastline:

386 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

Source: World Factbook