Geography of Belize: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:45, 30 November 2004

Revision as of 20:46, 30 November 2004

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[[Image:Belize map.png|Map Of Belize|right|]]

[[Belize]] is a small [[Central America]]n nation, located at 17°15′ north of the [[equator]] and 88°45′ west of the [[Prime Meridian]]. It borders the [[Caribbean Sea]] to the east, with 386km of coastline. It has a total of 516km of land borders—[[Mexico]] to the north-northwest (250km) and Guatemala to the south-southwest (266km). Belize's total size is 22,960km,² of which 22,800 km² is land and 160km² is water; this makes the country

ten times larger than the [[Australian Capital Territory]], about half the size of [[Nova Scotia]], slightly larger than [[Wales]], and slightly smaller than the [[U.S. state]] of [[Massachusetts]]. Belize is the only [[English language|English-speaking]] country in Central America and the only one without a [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] coastline. Many [[coral reef]]s, [[cay]]s, and [[island]]s to the east&mdashsuchmdash;such as Lighthouse Reef, Glover Reef, and the [[Turneffe Islands]]—are part of Belize's territory; the country's largest river is the epomyomouseponyomous [[Belize River]].

*Belize makes maritime claims of a 200-[[nautical mile]] [[exclusive economic zone]] and 12 nautical miles of [[Territorial watets|territorial sea:]] (12 nm in the north, 3 nmthree 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

Maritime claims:

* Exclusive economic zone: 200 [[Nautical mile|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)