Geography of Belize

source: CIA World Fact Book 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

• total : 22,960 sq km
• land: 22,800 sq km
• water: 160 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Massachusetts

• total: 516 km
• border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

Coastline: 386 km

• exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
• 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 the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala

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

Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

• lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
• highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m

Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish

• 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 coastal flooding (especially in south)

Environment - current issues: deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff

• party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, 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 because of hurricanes; only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean