Belize Geography 1997

Location Middle 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 : 22,960 sq km
land: 22,800 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
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - from the mouth of theSarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 nm; accordingto Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the purpose of this limitation is toprovide a framework for the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorialdifferences with Guatemala

Climate tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to February)

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

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 coastalflooding (especially in south)

Environment - current issues deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agriculturalrunoff

Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize City to Belmopan becauseof hurricanes; only country in Central America without a coastline on theNorth Pacific Ocean

NOTE: The information regarding Belize on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Belize Geography 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Belize Geography 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.