Netherlands Geography 1997

Location Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Geographic coordinates 52 30 N, 5 45 E

Map references Europe

Area
total: 37,330 sq km
land: 33,920 sq km
water: 3,410 sq km

Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries
total: 1,027 km
border countries : Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

Coastline 451 km

Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea : 12 nm

Climate temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Terrain mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Prins Alexanderpolder -7 m
highest point : Vaalserberg 321 m

Natural resources natural gas, petroleum, fertile soil

Land use
arable land : 27%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 31%
forests and woodland: 10%
other: 31% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land 5,600 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards the extensive system of dikes and dams, protects nearly one-half ofthe total area from being flooded

Environment - current issues water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, andnutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles andrefining activities; acid rain

Environment - international agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity

Geography - note located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse,and Schelde)

NOTE: The information regarding Netherlands 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 Netherlands Geography 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Netherlands Geography 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.