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Location:
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Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
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Geographic coordinates:
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17 15 N, 88 45 W
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Map references:
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Central America and the Caribbean
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Area:
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total: 22,966 sq km
water: 160 sq km
land: 22,806 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Massachusetts
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Land boundaries:
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total: 516 km
border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
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Coastline:
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386 km
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Maritime claims:
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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
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Climate:
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tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
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Terrain:
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flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
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Natural resources:
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arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 2.81%
permanent crops: 1.1%
other: 96.09% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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30 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
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