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Belgium Geography 1996

Location:

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total area:

30,510 sq km

land area:

30,230 sq km

comparative area:

slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total 1,385 km, France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km

Coastline:

64 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

International disputes:

none

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

Natural resources:

coal, natural gas

Land use:

arable land:

24%

permanent crops:

meadows and pastures:

20%

forest and woodland:

21%

other:

34%

Irrigated land:

10 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:

current issues:

Meuse River, a major source of drinking water, polluted from steel production wastes; other rivers polluted by animal wastes and fertilizers; industrial air pollution contributes to acid rain in neighboring countries

natural hazards:

flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes

international agreements:

party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Note:

crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of the EU

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