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Belize Geography 2017
https://theodora.com/world_fact_book_2017/belize/belize_geography.html
SOURCE: 2017 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK AND OTHER SOURCES











Belize Geography 2017
SOURCE: 2017 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK AND OTHER SOURCES


Page last updated on January 12, 2017

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
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 22,806 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 160 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 152

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries:
total: 542 km
border countries (2): Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 276 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
386 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

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 negotiating 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:
mean elevation: 173 m
[see also: Mean Elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Doyle's Delight 1,160 m

Natural resources:
arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Land use:
agricultural land: 6.9% arable land 3.3%; permanent crops 1.4%; permanent pasture 2.2%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 60.6%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 32.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
35 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population - distribution:
approximately 25 to 30% of the population lives in the former capital, Belize City; over half of the overall population is rural; population density is slightly higher in the north and east

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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean


NOTE: The information regarding Belize on this page is re-published from the 2017 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Belize Geography 2017 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Belize Geography 2017 should be addressed to the CIA.




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This page was last modified 22-Feb-17
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