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Belgium vs. Luxembourg

Geography

BelgiumLuxembourg
LocationWestern Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the NetherlandsWestern Europe, between France and Germany
Geographic coordinates50 50 N, 4 00 E49 45 N, 6 10 E
Map referencesEuropeEurope
Areatotal: 30,528 sq km

land: 30,278 sq km

water: 250 sq km
total: 2,586 sq km

land: 2,586 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Area - comparativeabout the size of Marylandslightly smaller than Rhode Island; about half the size of Delaware
Land boundariestotal: 1,297 km

border countries (4): France 556 km, Germany 133 km, Luxembourg 130 km, Netherlands 478 km
total: 327 km

border countries (3): Belgium 130 km, France 69 km, Germany 128 km
Coastline66.5 km0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claimsterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit

continental shelf: median line with neighbors
none (landlocked)
Climatetemperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudymodified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrainflat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeastmostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle flood plain in the southeast
Elevation extremeshighest point: Botrange 694 m

lowest point: North Sea 0 m

mean elevation: 181 m
highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m

lowest point: Moselle River 133 m

mean elevation: 325 m
Natural resourcesconstruction materials, silica sand, carbonates, arable landiron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
Land useagricultural land: 44.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 27.2% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 16.1% (2018 est.)

forest: 22.4% (2018 est.)

other: 33.5% (2018 est.)
agricultural land: 50.7% (2018 est.)

arable land: 24% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 26.1% (2018 est.)

forest: 33.5% (2018 est.)

other: 15.8% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land230 sq km (2012)0 sq km (2012)
Natural hazardsflooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikesoccasional flooding
Environment - current issuesintense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countriesair and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland; unsustainable patterns of consumption (transport, energy, recreation, space) threaten biodiversity and landscapes
Environment - international agreementsparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - notecrossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals are within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATOlandlocked; the only grand duchy in the world
Total renewable water resources18.3 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)3.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Population distributionmost of the population concentrated in the northern two-thirds of the country; the southeast is more thinly populated; considered to have one of the highest population densities in the world; approximately 97% live in urban areasmost people live in the south, on or near the border with France

Source: CIA Factbook