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    Belgium Geography - 2004

    https://immigration-usa.com/wfb2004/belgium/belgium_geography.html
    SOURCE: 2004 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK

      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: 30,528 sq km
      land: 30,278 sq km
      water: 250 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:
      66.5 km

      Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
      territorial sea: 12 NM
      continental shelf: median line with neighbors
      exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit

      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, construction materials, silica sand, carbonates

      Land use:
      arable land: 27.4%
      permanent crops: 0%
      note: includes Luxembourg (1998 est.)
      other: 72.6%

      Irrigated land:
      40 sq km (includes Luxembourg) (1998 est.)

      Natural hazards:
      flooding is a threat along rivers and 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, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges

      Environment - international agreements:
      party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
      signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

      Geography - note:
      crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO


      NOTE: The information regarding Belgium on this page is re-published from the 2004 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Belgium Geography 2004 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Belgium Geography 2004 should be addressed to the CIA.

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    https://immigration-usa.com/wfb2004/belgium/belgium_geography.html
    Revised 21-May-04
    Copyright © 2021 Photius Coutsoukis (all rights reserved)