| Location : |
Central 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 : |
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
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| 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: 2.85%
permanent crops: 1.71%
other: 95.44% (2001) |
| Irrigated Land : |
30 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural Hazards : |
frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south) |
| Environment - Current Issues : |
deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal |
| Environment - International Agreements : |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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. |
