Location:
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
Geographic coordinates:
50 50 N, 4 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
Area - comparative: Land boundaries:
Coastline: Maritime claims:
Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: Land use:
Irrigated land: Total renewable water resources: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements:
Geography - note:
total:
30,528 sq km
country comparison to the world: 141
land:
30,278 sq km
water:
250 sq km
about the size of Maryland
total:
1,297 km
border countries:
France 556 km, Germany 133 km, Luxembourg 130 km, Netherlands 478 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
66.5 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea:
12 nm
contiguous zone:
24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
geographic coordinates define outer limit
continental shelf:
median line with neighbors
temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
More Climate Details
flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
lowest point:
North Sea 0 m
highest point:
Botrange 694 m
construction materials, silica sand, carbonates
arable land:
27.06%
permanent crops:
0.72%
other:
72.22%
note:
includes Luxembourg (2011)
233.5 sq km (2007)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
18.3 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total:
6.22 cu km/yr (12%/88%/1%)
per capita:
589.8 cu m/yr (2007)
flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) had slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges
party to:
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO