Geography of Belgium

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Geography of Belgium
Be-map.png
Continent Europe
Region Western Europe
Coordinates 50°50′N4°00′E / 50.833°N 4.000°E / 50.833; 4.000
Area Ranked 136th
  Total30,689 km2 (11,849 sq mi)
  Land99.36%
  Water0.64%
Coastline66.5 km (41.3 mi)
Borders Total land borders:
1,380/1,385 km
Highest point Signal de Botrange
695 m (2,280 ft)
Lowest point De Moeren
−3 m (−10 ft)
Longest river Escaut
200 km

Belgium is a federal state located in Western Europe and is divided into three regions: the Flemish Region (Flanders), the Walloon Region (Wallonia), and the Brussels Capital Region (Brussels).

Contents

Belgium borders the North Sea and shares borders with the countries of France (620 km), the Netherlands (450 km), Germany (162/167 km), and Luxembourg (148 km).

General information

Total renewable water resources: 18.3 cu km (2011)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 6.22 cu km/yr (12%/88%/1%)
per capita: 589.8 cu m/yr (2007)

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

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

Longest Distances: 280 km SE-NW/ 222 km NE-SW

Area

Map of Belgian regions and provinces. Belgium RegProv.png
Map of Belgian regions and provinces.

Belgium has an area of 30,689 km² (11,849 sq mi), with 16,901 km2 (6,526 sq mi) or 55.1% for the Walloon Region, 13,626 km2 (5,261 sq mi) or 44.4% for the Flemish Region, and 162 km2 (63 sq mi) or 0.5% for the Brussels Capital Region. [1]

Its land area is 30,494 km² (11,774 sq mi) or 99.36%, and its water area is 195 km² (75 sq mi) or 0.64%. Belgium has also 3,454 km² (1,334 sq mi) of sea territories in the North Sea; including this, its total territory is 34,143 km² (13,183 sq mi). [2]

By provinces, the area (of 30,689 km²) is distributed as such: [1]

For the purpose of total area, the Brussels-Capital Region should also be included, though no longer a province since the Brabant was split.

On 29 May 2000, 2,000 square meters were granted by the Netherlands to Belgium (a piece of land in Zelzate along the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal).

Compared to other countries, Belgium is 44% larger than Wales in the United Kingdom and about the size of Maryland in the United States. Belgium is actually used as an unusual unit of measurement in comparing country sizes. [3]

In November 2016, Belgium and the Netherlands agreed to cede small, uninhabited parcels of land to reflect a change in course of the river Meuse (or Maas, in Dutch). The land swap is to take effect as of 2018. [4]

Physical geography

The natural regions of Belgium. Regions naturelles de Belgique.jpg
The natural regions of Belgium.
Landscape in the Hautes Fagnes, in the Ardennes Hautes-Fagnes.jpg
Landscape in the Hautes Fagnes, in the Ardennes
Dunes in Koksijde, at the North Sea Hoge-Blekker.Koksijde.jpg
Dunes in Koksijde, at the North Sea

Belgium has three main geographical regions: the coastal plain in the north-west, the central plateau, and the Ardennes uplands in the south-east. The coastal plain consists mainly of sand dunes and polders. Polders are areas of land, close to or below sea level that have been reclaimed from the sea, from which they are protected by dikes or, further inland, by fields that have been drained with canals. The second geographical region, the central plateau, lies further inland. This is a smooth, slowly rising area that has many fertile valleys and is irrigated by many waterways. Here one can also find rougher land, including caves and small gorges. The third geographical region, called the Ardennes, is more rugged than the first two. It is a thickly forested plateau, very rocky and not very good for farming, which extends into northern France and in Germany where it is named Eifel. This is where much of Belgium's wildlife can be found. Belgium's highest point, the Signal de Botrange is located in this region at only 694 metres (2,277 ft). Belgium has relatively few natural lakes and none of any great size.

Notable natural regions include the Ardennes, Campine and High Fens.

Rivers and lakes

All of Belgium is drained into the North Sea, except the municipality of Momignies (Macquenoise), which is drained by the river Oise into the English Channel. Three major rivers flow into the sea: the Scheldt (200 km in Belgium, 350 km in total), the Meuse (183 km in Belgium, 925 km in total) and the Yser (50 km in Belgium, 78 km in total). Other rivers are the Rupel, Senne, Sambre, Lesse, Ourthe, Lys and Dijle. The main lakes include the Lake Genval, Lake Bütgenbach, Lake Eau d'Heure, Lake Gileppe, Lake Eupen and Lake Robertville.

Artificial waterways

Belgium has also many artificial waterways or canals, among others the Brussels–Scheldt Maritime Canal, the Brussels–Charleroi Canal, the Canal du Centre and the Albert Canal in Antwerp.

Climate

The Belgian climate, like most of northwest Europe, [5] is maritime temperate, with significant precipitation in all seasons (Köppen climate classification: Cfb; the average temperature is 3  °C (37.4  °F ) in January, and 18 °C (64.4 °F) in July; the average precipitation is 65 mm (2.6 in) in January, and 78 mm (3.1 in) in July). [6] Belgium usually has cool winters but temperatures as low as −16 °C (3 °F) have been registered and summers are comfortably warm but temperatures can occasionally rise as high as 30 °C (86 °F).

Climate data for Uccle (Brussels-Capital Region) 1991–2020
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)15.3
(59.5)
20.0
(68.0)
24.2
(75.6)
28.7
(83.7)
34.1
(93.4)
38.8
(101.8)
39.7
(103.5)
36.5
(97.7)
34.9
(94.8)
27.8
(82.0)
20.6
(69.1)
16.7
(62.1)
39.7
(103.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)6.1
(43.0)
7.1
(44.8)
10.9
(51.6)
15.0
(59.0)
18.4
(65.1)
21.2
(70.2)
23.2
(73.8)
23.0
(73.4)
19.5
(67.1)
14.9
(58.8)
9.9
(49.8)
6.6
(43.9)
14.7
(58.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)3.7
(38.7)
4.2
(39.6)
7.1
(44.8)
10.4
(50.7)
13.9
(57.0)
16.7
(62.1)
18.7
(65.7)
18.4
(65.1)
15.2
(59.4)
11.3
(52.3)
7.2
(45.0)
4.3
(39.7)
10.9
(51.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)1.4
(34.5)
1.5
(34.7)
3.5
(38.3)
6.0
(42.8)
9.2
(48.6)
12.0
(53.6)
14.1
(57.4)
13.9
(57.0)
11.3
(52.3)
8.1
(46.6)
4.6
(40.3)
2.1
(35.8)
7.3
(45.2)
Record low °C (°F)−21.1
(−6.0)
−18.3
(−0.9)
−13.6
(7.5)
−5.7
(21.7)
−2.2
(28.0)
0.3
(32.5)
4.4
(39.9)
3.9
(39.0)
0.0
(32.0)
−6.8
(19.8)
−12.8
(9.0)
−17.7
(0.1)
−21.1
(−6.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)75.5
(2.97)
65.1
(2.56)
59.3
(2.33)
46.7
(1.84)
59.7
(2.35)
70.8
(2.79)
76.9
(3.03)
86.5
(3.41)
65.3
(2.57)
67.8
(2.67)
76.2
(3.00)
87.4
(3.44)
837.2
(32.96)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)18.916.915.713.114.714.114.314.314.116.118.319.4189.9
Average snowy days3.84.92.70.60.00.00.00.00.00.11.23.717
Average relative humidity (%)84.180.674.869.270.271.371.572.476.881.585.186.677.0
Mean monthly sunshine hours 59.172.9125.8171.3198.3199.3203.2192.4154.4112.665.848.61,603.7
Average ultraviolet index 1134676642114
Source 1: Royal Meteorological Institute [7] [8]
Source 2: Weather Atlas; [9] 2019 July record high from VRT Nieuws [10]
Climate data for Antwerp (1981–2010 normals), sunshine 1984–2013
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)6.2
(43.2)
7.0
(44.6)
10.8
(51.4)
14.4
(57.9)
18.4
(65.1)
20.9
(69.6)
23.2
(73.8)
23.1
(73.6)
19.7
(67.5)
15.3
(59.5)
10.1
(50.2)
6.6
(43.9)
14.7
(58.5)
Daily mean °C (°F)3.4
(38.1)
3.7
(38.7)
6.8
(44.2)
9.6
(49.3)
13.6
(56.5)
16.2
(61.2)
18.5
(65.3)
18.2
(64.8)
15.1
(59.2)
11.3
(52.3)
7.0
(44.6)
4.0
(39.2)
10.6
(51.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)0.7
(33.3)
0.5
(32.9)
2.8
(37.0)
4.8
(40.6)
8.8
(47.8)
11.7
(53.1)
13.8
(56.8)
13.2
(55.8)
10.6
(51.1)
7.4
(45.3)
4.1
(39.4)
1.5
(34.7)
6.7
(44.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches)69.3
(2.73)
57.4
(2.26)
63.8
(2.51)
47.1
(1.85)
61.5
(2.42)
77.0
(3.03)
80.6
(3.17)
77.3
(3.04)
77.2
(3.04)
78.7
(3.10)
79.0
(3.11)
79.5
(3.13)
848.4
(33.40)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)12.310.612.09.210.610.410.29.910.311.412.912.8132.7
Mean monthly sunshine hours 577712217720820221420214411662471,625
Source: Royal Meteorological Institute [11]

Mountain and hills

Belgium's highest point is the Signal de Botrange at 694 metres above the sea level. Other hills in Belgium include the Kemmelberg (159 m high) and the Koppenberg (77 m high) both known as part of the route of the cycle races Gent–Wevelgem and the Tour of Flanders respectively.

Extreme points

Extreme points of Belgium Extreme points Belgium.png
Extreme points of Belgium

This is a list of the extreme points of Belgium, the points that are farther north, south, east, west, high or low than any other location.

The Belgian National Geographic Institute calculated that the central point of Belgium lies at coordinates 50°38′28″N4°40′05″E / 50.64111°N 4.66806°E / 50.64111; 4.66806 , in Nil-Saint-Vincent-Saint-Martin in the municipality of Walhain. [12]

Human geography

Demographics

Political geography

Natural resources

Natural resources in Belgium include construction materials, silica sand and carbonates. Belgium used to have coal mines. As of 2012, the land use was as follows:

As of 2007, the estimated area of irrigated land was of 233.5 km2.

Environment

Because of its high population density and location in the centre of Western Europe, Belgium faces serious environmental problems. A 2003 report [13] suggested that the water in Belgium's rivers was of the lowest quality in Europe, and bottom of the 122 countries studied. The environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanisation, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding, and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighbouring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges.

Cities

The main cities in Belgium in terms of population are Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi and Liège. Other notable cities include Bruges, Namur, Leuven, Mons and Mechelen.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Belgium</span>

Transport in Belgium is facilitated with well-developed road, air, rail and water networks. The rail network has 2,950 km (1,830 mi) of electrified tracks. There are 118,414 km (73,579 mi) of roads, among which there are 1,747 km (1,086 mi) of motorways, 13,892 km (8,632 mi) of main roads and 102,775 km (63,861 mi) of other paved roads. There is also a well-developed urban rail network in Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Charleroi. The ports of Antwerp and Bruges-Zeebrugge are two of the biggest seaports in Europe. Brussels Airport is Belgium's biggest airport.

Brabant is a traditional geographical region in the Low Countries of Europe. It may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flanders</span> Dutch-speaking region of Belgium

Flanders is the Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, language, politics, and history, and sometimes involving neighbouring countries. The demonym associated with Flanders is Fleming, while the corresponding adjective is Flemish, which can also refer to the collective of Dutch dialects spoken in that area, or more generally the Belgian variant of Standard Dutch. The official capital of Flanders is the City of Brussels, although the Brussels-Capital Region that includes it has an independent regional government. The powers of the government of Flanders consist, among others, of economic affairs in the Flemish Region and the community aspects of Flanders life in Brussels, such as Flemish culture and education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flemish Brabant</span> Province of Belgium

Flemish Brabant is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Belgian provinces of Antwerp, Limburg, Liège, Walloon Brabant, Hainaut and East Flanders. Flemish Brabant also surrounds the Brussels-Capital Region. Its capital is Leuven. It has an area of 2,118 km2 (818 sq mi) which is divided into two administrative districts containing 65 municipalities. As of January 2024, Flemish Brabant had a population of over 1.19 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scheldt</span> River in France, Belgium and the Netherlands

The Scheldt is a 435-kilometre-long (270 mi) river that flows through northern France, western Belgium, and the southwestern part of the Netherlands, with its mouth at the North Sea. Its name is derived from an adjective corresponding to Old English sċeald ("shallow"), Modern English shoal, Low German schol, West Frisian skol, and obsolete Swedish skäll ("thin").

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walloon Brabant</span> Province in the Belgian region of Wallonia

Walloon Brabant is a province located in Belgium's French-speaking region of Wallonia. It borders on the province of Flemish Brabant and the provinces of Liège, Namur and Hainaut. Walloon Brabant's capital and largest city is Wavre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallonia</span> Southernmost federal region of Belgium

Wallonia, officially the Walloon Region, is one of the three regions of Belgium—along with Flanders and Brussels. Covering the southern portion of the country, Wallonia is primarily French-speaking. It accounts for 55% of Belgium's territory, but only a third of its population. The Walloon Region and the French Community of Belgium, which is the political entity responsible for matters related mainly to culture and education, are independent concepts, because the French Community of Belgium encompasses both Wallonia and the bilingual Brussels-Capital Region but not the German-speaking Community of Belgium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ardennes</span> Low mountain range in Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and France

The Ardennes, also known as the Ardennes Forest or Forest of Ardennes, is a region of extensive forests, rough terrain, rolling hills and ridges primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, extending into Germany and France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Communities, regions, and language areas of Belgium</span>

Belgium is a federal state comprising three communities and three regions that are based on four language areas. For each of these subdivision types, the subdivisions together make up the entire country; in other words, the types overlap.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Provinces of Belgium</span> Subdivisions of Belgium

The Kingdom of Belgium is divided into three regions. Two of these regions, Flanders and Wallonia, are each subdivided into five provinces. The third region, Brussels, does not belong to any province and nor is it subdivided into provinces. Instead, it has amalgamated both regional and provincial functions into a single "Capital Region" administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hainaut Province</span> Province of Belgium

Hainaut, historically also known as Heynault in English, is a province of Wallonia and Belgium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grimbergen</span> Municipality in Flemish Community, Belgium

Grimbergen is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region of Belgium, 10 km (6.2 mi) north of the capital Brussels. The municipality comprises the towns of Beigem, Grimbergen, Humbeek, and Strombeek-Bever. In 2017, Grimbergen had a total population of 37,030. The total area is 38.61 km2 (14.91 sq mi), which gives a population density of 959/km2 (2,480/sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wezembeek-Oppem</span> Municipality in Flemish Community, Belgium

Wezembeek-OppemDutch:[ˈʋeːzɛmˌbeːkˈɔpɛm] is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region of Belgium, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) east of the centre of Brussels. The municipality only comprises the town of Wezembeek-Oppem proper. On January 1, 2016, Wezembeek-Oppem had a total population of 14,095. The total area is 6.82 km2 (2.63 sq mi), which gives a population density of 2,066/km2 (5,350/sq mi). It is essentially a suburb of Brussels and was a component of the short-lived Arrondissement of Brussels-Periphery, although it does not directly adjoin any part of the Brussels-Capital Region. The Brussels Ring (R0) orbital motorway bisects the municipality.

Articles related to Belgium include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walhain</span> Municipality in French Community, Belgium

Walhain is a municipality of Wallonia located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant. It consists of the former municipalities of Nil-Saint-Vincent-Saint-Martin, Tourinnes-Saint-Lambert and Walhain-Saint-Paul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flemish Region</span> Northernmost federal region of Belgium

The Flemish Region, usually simply referred to as Flanders, is one of the three regions of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Covering the northern portion of the country, the Flemish Region is primarily Dutch-speaking. With an area of 13,626 km2 (5,261 sq mi), it accounts for only 45% of Belgium's territory, but 58% of its population. It is one of the most densely populated regions of Europe with around 500/km2 (1,300/sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flemish Diamond</span>

The Flemish Diamond is the Flemish reference to a network of four metropolitan areas in Belgium, three of which are in the central provinces of Flanders, together with the Brussels-Capital Region. It consists of four agglomerations which form the four corners of an abstract diamond shape: Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp and Leuven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nil-Saint-Vincent-Saint-Martin</span>

Nil-Saint-Vincent-Saint-Martin is a Belgian village and district of the municipality of Walhain, Wallonia in the province of Walloon Brabant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Belgium</span> Country in Northwestern Europe

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Belgium:

Water supply and sanitation in Belgium is provided by a large variety of organizations: Most of the 581 municipalities of Belgium have delegated the responsibility for water supply and sanitation to regional or inter-municipal utilities. There are more than 62 water supply utilities, including 2 regional, 30 inter-municipal and 30 municipal utilities. Another 100 mostly small municipalities provide services directly without having a legally of financially separate entity for water supply. Water is not scarce in Belgium and water supply is generally continuous and of good quality. However, wastewater treatment has long lagged behind and Brussels only achieved full treatment of its wastewater in 2007. In 2004 the European Court of Justice ruled condemning Belgium's failure to comply with the EU wastewater directive, and the ruling has not been fully complied with so far. Wallonia satisfies 55% of the national needs in drinking water while it counts only 37% of the population. Flanders and Brussels are dependent on drinking water from Wallonia, at a level of 40% and 98% respectively.

References

  1. 1 2 Land use according to the land register, STATBEL
  2. Land use, STATBEL
  3. "A Web Site the Size of Belgium : Home Page". Archived from the original on 2010-02-21. Retrieved 2010-04-04.
  4. "Belgium and Netherlands agree to swap land to simplify border". The Guardian. Reuters. 2016-11-29. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2017-08-04.
  5. Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11 (5): 1633–1644. Bibcode:2007HESS...11.1633P. doi: 10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 . ISSN   1027-5606.(direct: Final Revised Paper)
  6. Eurometeo: The meteo at Brussels
  7. "Normales climatiques à Uccle" (in French). Royal Meteorological Institute. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  8. "Le climat de la Belgique" (in French). Royal Meteorological Institute. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  9. "Brussels, Belgium - Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast". Weather Atlas. Yu Media Group. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  10. Kristien Bonneure, Johan Droessaert, Gianni Paelinck, Denny Baert (25 July 2019). "Herlees onze Hitteblog: warmste dag ooit eindigt met chaos door propvolle treinen die terugkeren van de kust". VRT Nieuws.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. "Statistiques climatiques des communes belges: Antwerpen (ins 11002)" (PDF) (in French). Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  12. "Centre géographique – Le Site" (in French). Municipality of Walhain. Archived from the original on January 18, 2010. Retrieved 2007-03-09.
  13. Pearce, Fred (2003-03-05). "Sewage-laden Belgian water worst in world". New Scientist. Retrieved 2006-05-09.