Geography of Belize

This article describes the geography of Belize.

Belize is in Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, Guatemala, and Mexico. The many coral reefs like the Lighthouse Reef and Glover Reef, and islands, such as the Turneffe Islands, are part of the country. Many rivers, as the Belize river, cross Belize and finally end in the Carabbean Sea.

Contents

Statistics

Geographic coordinates:

17° 15′ N, 88° 45′ W

Area:

Total: 22,960 km²
Land: 22,800 km²
Water: 160 km²

Area comparative:

Australia comparative: 10 times larger than the Australian Capital Territory
Canada comparative: about half the size of Nova Scotia
United Kingdom comparative: slightly larger than Wales
United States comparative: slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries:

Total: 516 km
Border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

Coastline:

386 km

Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south. 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

Climate:

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

Terrain:

Flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Elevation extremes:

Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Highest point: Doyle's Delight 1,124 m (3688 feet)(recent survey shows Doyle's Delight is slightly higher than the peak long called Belize's highest point, Victoria Peak 1,120 m (3,675 feet) )

Natural resources: