Geography of Belize - General Information

General Information

Belize claims an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles (370.4 km; 230.2 mi) and a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles (22.2 km; 13.8 mi). From the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 nmi (5.6 km; 3.5 mi); 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 (June to November); dry season (February to May).

Terrain

• Flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Belize's lowest elevation is at sea level. Its highest point is Doyle's Delight at 1,124 m (3,688 ft). This conclusion was the result of a recent survey, showing Doyle's Delight is slightly higher than Victoria Peak at 1,120 m (3,675 ft), which had long been regarded as Belize's highest point.

Natural hazards in Belize include hurricanes (mostly in the late Atlantic hurricane season, September to December) and coastal flooding, especially in the south.

Current environmental degradation issues in Belize include deforestation, water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, and agricultural runoff, and solid waste disposal.

Belize is party to the Basel Convention, Convention on Biological Diversity, Ramsar Convention, CITES, Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, Montreal Protocol, MARPOL 73/78, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

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