<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Belize<nl>Geography</hdr><body>
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<item><hi format=bold>Location:</hi> Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea between Guatemala and Mexico
<item><hi format=bold>Area:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>total area:</hi> 22,960 sq km
<item>• <hi format=ital>land area:</hi> 22,800 sq km
<item>• <hi format=ital>comparative area:</hi> slightly larger than Massachusetts
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<item><hi format=bold>Land boundaries:</hi> total 516 km, Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
<item><hi format=bold>Coastline:</hi> 386 km
<item><hi format=bold>Maritime claims:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>territorial sea:</hi> 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south
<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> 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
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<item><hi format=bold>International disputes:</hi> maritime border with Guatemala in dispute; desultory negotiations to resolve the dispute have begun
<item><hi format=bold>Climate:</hi> tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to February)
<item><hi format=bold>Terrain:</hi> flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
<item><hi format=bold>Natural resources:</hi> arable land potential, timber, fish
<item><hi format=bold>Land use:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>arable land:</hi> 2%
<item>• <hi format=ital>permanent crops:</hi> 0%
<item>• <hi format=ital>meadows and pastures:</hi> 2%
<item>• <hi format=ital>forest and woodland:</hi> 44%
<item>• <hi format=ital>other:</hi> 52%
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<item><hi format=bold>Irrigated land:</hi> 20 sq km (1989 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>Environment:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>current issues:</hi> deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff
<item>• <hi format=ital>natural hazards:</hi> frequent devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
<item>• <hi format=ital>international agreements:</hi> party to—Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Whaling; signed, but not ratified—Climate Change
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<item><hi format=bold>Note:</hi> 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
