| Location | Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico |
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| Geographic coordinates | 17 15 N, 88 45 W |
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| Zone | Central America |
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| Area | total: 22,966 sq km
land: 22,806 sq km
water: 160 sq km |
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| Land boundaries | total: 516 km
border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km |
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| Coastline | 386 km |
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| 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 |
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| Climate | tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May) |
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| Terrain | flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south |
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| Elevation extremes | lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m |
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| Natural resources | arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower |
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| Irrigated land | 386 km |
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| Natural hazards | frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south) |
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Environment -
current issues | deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal |
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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 |
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| Geography - note | only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean |
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