Editing Geography of Belize (section)

==Physical features==
Topographical feature divide the Belizean landscape into two main physiographic regions.<ref name=":9">{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/93010956/|title=Guyana and Belize: country studies|date=1993|publisher=[[Federal Research Division]], [[Library of Congress]]|isbn=0-8444-0778-X|editor-last=Merrill|editor-first=Tim|edition=2nd|location=Washington, D.C.|pages=191–193|oclc=28066032|postscript=. {{PD-notice}}}}</ref> The most visually striking of these regions is distinguished by the [[Maya Mountains]] and the associated basins and plateaus that dominate all but the narrow coastal plain in the southern half of the country.<ref name=":9" /> The mountains rise to heights of about 1,100 metres,<ref name=":9" /> with the highest point being [[Doyle's Delight]] (1,124 m) in the Cockscomb Range, a spur of the Maya Mountains in Western Belize.{{Fact|date=November 2020}} Covered with shallow, highly erodible soils of low fertility, these heavily forested highlands are very sparsely inhabited.<ref name=":9" />

The second region comprises the northern lowlands, along with the southern coastal plain.<ref name=":9" /> Eighteen major rivers and many perennial streams drain these low-lying areas.<ref name=":9" /> The coastline is flat and swampy, with many lagoons, especially in the northern and central parts of the country.<ref name=":9" /> Westward from the northern coastal areas, the terrain changes from [[mangrove swamp]] to tropical pine savanna and hardwood forest.<ref name=":9" /> The country's largest lake is the approximately {{Convert|13.5|km2|abbr=on|adj=on}} [[New River (Belize)|New River Lagoon]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rushton |first1=Elizabeth A. C. |last2=Whitney |first2=Bronwen S. |last3=Metcalfe |first3=Sarah E. |date=17 October 2020 |title=A Tale of Maize, Palm, and Pine: Changing Socio-Ecological Interactions from Pre-Classic Maya to the Present Day in Belize |journal=Quaternary |language=en |volume=3 |issue=4 |pages=30 |doi=10.3390/quat3040030 |doi-access=free |issn=2571-550X |quote=The NRL is about 23 km long, 0.75 km wide, and covers approximately 13.5 km2, the largest body of freshwater in Belize.}}</ref>

[[File:Maritime Boundaries of Belize.svg|thumb|left|Map of Belize's [[exclusive economic zone]]]]
Belize claims an [[exclusive economic zone]] of {{convert|35,351|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} with {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1|lk=in}} and a [[Territorial waters|territorial sea]] of {{convert|12|nmi|km mi|1}}. From the mouth of the [[Sarstoon River]] to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is {{convert|3|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on}}; 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.

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

===Rivers===
{{See also|List of rivers of Belize}}
The interlocking networks of rivers, creeks, and lagoons have played a key role in the historical geography of Belize.<ref name=":9" /> The largest and most historically important river is the [[Belize River]], which drains more than one-quarter of the country as it winds along the northern edge of the Maya Mountains across the center of the country to the sea near Belize City.<ref name=":9" /> Also known as the Old River, the Belize River is navigable up to the Guatemalan border and served as the main artery of commerce and communication between the interior and the coast until well into the twentieth century.<ref name=":9" />

Other historically important rivers include the [[Sibun River]], which drains the northeastern edge of the Maya Mountains, and the [[New River (Belize)|New River]], which flows through the northern sugar-growing areas before emptying into [[Chetumal Bay]].<ref name=":9" /> Both of these river valleys possess fertile alluvial soils and have supported considerable cultivation and human settlement.<ref name=":9" />

===Islands===
{{See also|List of islands of Belize}}

=== Forests ===
In Belize [[forest cover]] is around 56% of the total land area, equivalent to 1,277,050 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, down from 1,600,030 hectares (ha) in 1990. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 1,274,670 hectares (ha) and planted forest covered 2,390 hectares (ha). Of the naturally regenerating forest 0% was reported to be [[primary forest]] (consisting of native tree species with no clearly visible indications of human activity) and around 59% of the forest area was found within protected areas.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a6e225da-4a31-4e06-818d-ca3aeadfd635/content |title=Terms and Definitions FRA 2025 Forest Resources Assessment, Working Paper 194 |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |year=2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, Belize |url=https://fra-data.fao.org/assessments/fra/2020/BLZ/home/overview |website=Food Agriculture Organization of the United Nations}}</ref>