Belgium: Background & Geography

Introduction Belgium
Background:
 Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.
Geography Belgium
Location:
 Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
Geographic coordinates:
 50 50 N, 4 00 E
Map references:
 Europe
Area:
 total: 30,528 sq km
land: 30,278 sq km
water: 250 sq km
Area - comparative:
 about the size of Maryland
Land boundaries:
 total: 1,385 km
border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km
Coastline:
 66.5 km
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
 territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: median line with neighbors
exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit
Climate:
 temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
Terrain:
 flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
Elevation extremes:
 lowest point: North Sea 0 m
highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m
Natural resources:
 coal, natural gas, construction materials, silica sand, carbonates
Land use:
 arable land: 27.4%
permanent crops: 0%
note: includes Luxembourg (1998 est.)
other: 72.6%
Irrigated land:
 40 sq km (includes Luxembourg) (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
 flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
Environment - current issues:
 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) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges
Environment - international agreements:
 party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, 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
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
 crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO

See Also: