Belgium: Geography#
| Location | Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands |
|---|---|
| Geographic Coordinates | 50 50 N, 4 00 E 50.833332,4.0 |
| Area | total: 30,528 sq km land: 30,278 sq km water: 250 sq km [Verified in 8 databases] |
| Land boundaries | total: 1,297 km border countries: France 556 km, Germany 133 km, Luxembourg 130 km, Netherlands 478 km |
| Coastline | 66.5 km |
| Elevation Extremes | lowest point: North Sea 0 m highest point: Botrange 694 m |
| Highest Mountains | |
| Terrain | flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast |
| Natural Hazards | flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes |
| Natural Resource | construction materials, silica sand, carbonates |
| Land Use | arable land: 27.06% permanent crops: 0.72% other: 72.22% note: includes Luxembourg (2011) |
| Climate | temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy |
| Irrigated Land | 233.5 sq km (2007) |
| Renewable Water Resources | 18.3 cu km (2011) |
| Environment_CurrentIssues | the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) had slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges |
| 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, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Large Cities | Brussels; Antwerp; Gent; Charleroi; Liege [Verified] Important Cities |
| Geography-note | crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO Important Lakes |