Luxembourg Geography Profile 2008

Location

Western Europe, between France and Germany

Geographic coordinates

49 45 N, 6 10 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 2,586 sq km
land: 2,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries

total: 359 km
border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

modified continental with mild winters, cool summers

Terrain

mostly 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 extremes

lowest point: Moselle River 133 m
highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m

Natural resources

iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land

Land use

arable land: 27.42%
permanent crops: 0.69%
other: 71.89% (includes Belgium) (2005)

Irrigated land

NA

Total renewable water resources

1.6 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.06 cu km/yr (42%/45%/13%)
per capita: 121 cu m/yr (1999)

Natural hazards

NA

Environment - current issues

air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note

landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world