Belize is in Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, Guatemala, and Mexico. The many coral reefs like the Lighthouse Reef and Glover Reef, and islands, such as the Turneffe Islands, are part of the country. Many rivers, as the Belize river, cross Belize and finally end in the Carabbean Sea. Location: Geographic coordinates:17 15 N, 88 45 W
Area:
total:
22,960 sq km
land:
22,800 sq km
water:
160 sq km
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
Cities and Towns
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%
permanent crops:
1%
permanent pastures:
2%
forests and woodland:
92%
other:
3% (1993 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, Marine Dumping, 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.
Reference
Some of the material in this article comes from the CIA World Factbook 2000.