Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Liège, Bruges and Namur are the seven largest cities of Belgium, with populations above 100,000

This article is about the geography of Belgium. Image File history File links A map of Belgium from the CIA World Factbook, update of Jul 28, 2005. ... Image File history File links A map of Belgium from the CIA World Factbook, update of Jul 28, 2005. ... Map showing the location of Brussels in Belgium Emblem of the Brussels-Capital Region Flag of The City of Brussels Brussels (French: Bruxelles, pronounced in French although often mistakenly pronounced by citizens of France; Dutch: Brussel; German: Brüssel) is the capital of Belgium, the French Community of Belgium, the... The Cathedral of our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal, Antwerp) in the Handschoenmarkt, in the old quarter of Antwerp is the largest cathedral in the Low Countries and home to a number of triptychs by Belgian Baroque painter Rubens. ... Ghent (Gent in Dutch, Gand in French, formerly Gaunt in English) is a city located in Flanders, Belgium. ... Charleroi (Walloon: Tchålerwè) is a city and a municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. ... Liège (Dutch: Luik, German: Lüttich; before 1946, the citys name was written Liége, with the acute accent) is a major city located in the Belgian province of Liège, of which it is the capital. ... Sometimes referred to as the Venice of the North, Bruges has many waterways that run through the city. ... Namur, the Meuse, the Walloon parliament and the citadel. ...

Belgium is located in Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands. A common understanding of Western Europe in modern times Western Europe was largely defined by the Cold War, with the Iron Curtain separating it from Eastern Europe (Warsaw Pact countries). ... The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ...

Geographic coordinates: 50°50′N 4°00′E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 32,545 km²
land: 30,278 km²
surface water: 250 km² (est)
sea: 2,017 km²

Area comparative

• Australia comparative: one third the size of Tasmania
• Canada comparative: about half the size of Nova Scotia
• United Kingdom comparative: 1.5 times larger than Wales
• United States comparative: about the size of Maryland

Land boundaries:
total: 1,379.0 km
border countries: France 620.0 km, Germany 161.5 km, Luxembourg 148.0 km, Netherlands 449.5 km Motto: Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Nickname: The Apple Isle Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Governor Premier Const. ... Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (Latin: One defends and the other conquers) Official languages None Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Lieutenant-Governor Myra Freeman Premier Rodney MacDonald (PC) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 11 10 Area Total  â€¢ Land  â€¢ Water    (% of total)  Ranked 12th 55,283 km² 53,338... For an explanation of often confusing terms such as Great Britain, Britain, United Kingdom and England, see British Isles (terminology). ... Official language(s) None Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 42nd 32,160 km² 145 km 400 km 21 37°53N to 39°43N 75°4W to 79°33W Population  - Total (2000)  - Density Ranked 19th 5,296,486 165...

Coastline: 72.3 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: median line with neighbors
exclusive fishing zone: median line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast)
territorial sea: 12 nautical miles

Climate: temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy

Terrain: flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, forested hills and valleys of the Ardennes Forest in southeast The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests and rolling hill country, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France (lending its name to the Ardennes département and the Champagne-Ardenne région). ...

Elevation extremes: See the section: Extreme points.
lowest point: North Sea 0 m
highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m The 6m high tower at the Signal de Botrange Communication tower on the Signal de Botrange The Signal de Botrange is the highest point in Belgium, located in the Hautes Fagnes, at 694 m above sea level. ...

Natural resources: coal

Land use:
arable land: 28% (2000)
permanent crops: 1% (2000)
permanent pastures: 17% (2000)
forests and woodland: 20% (2000)
other: 34%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Natural hazards: flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes

Environment - current issues: the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, intense animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have impeded progress in tackling environmental challenges

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note: crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of both the EU and NATO

Extreme points

Dunes in Koksijde, at the North Sea

Landscape in the Hautes Fagnes, in the Ardennes

This is a list of the extreme points of Belgium, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location. Image File history File links Hoge-Blekker. ... Image File history File links Hoge-Blekker. ... Mesquite Flat Dunes in Death Valley National Park In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by eolian (wind-related) processes. ... Koksijde is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. ... The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 1979 KB) Self-made picture, end of December 2004. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 1979 KB) Self-made picture, end of December 2004. ... The Hautes Fagnes (-French, in German: Hohes Venn, English translation: high fens) is a highland in Belgium and Germany, between the Ardennes and the Eifel highlands. ... The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests and rolling hill country, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France (lending its name to the Ardennes département and the Champagne-Ardenne région). ... Image File history File links Extreme points of Belgium. ...

• Northernmost Point — Dreef, municipality of Hoogstraten, Antwerp
• Southernmost Point — Torgny, municipality of Rouvroy, Luxembourg
• Westernmost Point — De Panne, West Flanders
• Easternmost Point — Krewinkel, municipality of Büllingen, Liège

• Highest Point — Signal de Botrange (694 m)
• Lowest Point — North Sea (0 m)

Hoogstraten is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. ... Antwerp is the northernmost province of Flanders and of Belgium. ... Rouvroy is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. ... De Panne is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. ... West Flanders (Dutch: West-Vlaanderen) is the westernmost province of Flanders and of Belgium. ... Büllingen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. ... Liège is the easternmost province of Wallonia and of Belgium. ... The 6m high tower at the Signal de Botrange Communication tower on the Signal de Botrange The Signal de Botrange is the highest point in Belgium, located in the Hautes Fagnes, at 694 m above sea level. ... The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ...

Reference

Much of the material in this article is adapted from the CIA World Factbook 2000. World Factbook 2004 cover The World Factbook is an annual publication by the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States with basic almanac-style information about the various countries of the world. ...

Geographically, Europe is a part of the larger landmass known as Eurasia. ... Location: Southeastern Europe, north of Greece Geographic coordinates: 41 50 N, 22 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 25,333 km² land: 24,856 km² water: 477 km² Area - comparative: slightly larger than Vermont Land boundaries: total: 748 km border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 228...

See also

• Belgium
• Rivers of Belgium

These are the main rivers of Belgium All of Belgium is drained into the North Sea. ...

External links

• Map of Belgium from lib.utexas.edu
• Belgium map from freeworldmaps.net