Belize Geography Profile 2009

Location

Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico

Geographic coordinates

17 15 N, 88 45 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total: 22,966 sq km
land: 22,806 sq km
water: 160 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries

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

Coastline

386 km

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

Climate

tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)

Terrain

flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Doyle's Delight 1,160 m

Natural resources

arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Land use

arable land: 3.05%
permanent crops: 1.39%
other: 95.56% (2005)

Irrigated land

30 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources

18.6 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.15 cu km/yr (7%/73%/20%)
per capita: 556 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

Environment - current issues

deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal

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

Geography - note

only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean