CIA Factbook The World Factbook 1994: BelizeGeography Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea between Guatemala and Mexico Area: • total area: 22,960 sq km • land area: 22,800 sq km • comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts Land boundaries: total 516 km, 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 miles; 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 International disputes: maritime border with Guatemala in dispute; desultory negotiations to resolve the dispute have begun Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to February) Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish Land use: • arable land: 2% • permanent crops: 0% • meadows and pastures: 2% • forest and woodland: 44% • other: 52% Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: • current issues: deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff • natural hazards: frequent devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south) • international agreements: party to—Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Whaling; signed, but not ratified—Climate Change 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