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

17 15 N, 88 45 W

Central America and the Caribbean

total: 22,960 sq km
land: 22,800 sq km
water: 160 sq km

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

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

386 km

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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 the
negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences with
Guatemala

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

flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m

arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 2%
forests and woodland: 92%
other: 3% (1993 est.)

20 sq km (1993 est.)

frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to
December) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

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

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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