Editing Wallonia (section)

== Geography ==
[[Image:Belgium resources 1968.jpg|thumb|left|Coalmining and steelmaking industrial areas in Belgium. The [[sillon industriel]] is the blue area along the [[Meuse]] and [[Sambre]].]][[File:Régions naturelles de Belgique.jpg|thumb|350px|The natural regions of Belgium]]

Wallonia is [[landlocked]], with an area of {{convert|16901|km²|sqmi|abbr=on}}, or 55 percent of the total area of Belgium. The [[Sambre and Meuse valley]], from [[Liège]] ({{convert|70|m|ft|abbr=on}}) to [[Charleroi]] ({{convert|120|m|ft|abbr=on}}) is an [[entrenched river]] in a [[fault (geology)|fault line]] which separates Middle Belgium (elevation {{convert|100|–|200|m|ft|abbr=on}}) and High Belgium ({{convert|200|–|700|m|ft|abbr=on}}). This fault line corresponds to a part of the southern coast of the late [[London-Brabant Massif]]. The valley, along with [[Haine]] and [[Vesdre]] valleys form the ''[[sillon industriel]]'', the historical centre of the Belgian coalmining and steelmaking industry, and is also called the Walloon industrial backbone. Due to their long industrial historic record, several segments of the valley have received specific names: [[Borinage]], around [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]], le [[Centre region, Hainaut|Centre]], around [[La Louvière]], the [[Pays noir]], around [[Charleroi]] and the Basse-Sambre, near [[Namur]].

To the north of the Sambre and Meuse valley lies the Central Belgian plateau, which is characterized by [[intensive agriculture]]. The Walloon part of this plateau is traditionally divided into several regions: [[Walloon Brabant]] around [[Nivelles]], [[Western Hainaut]] ({{langx|fr|link=no|Wallonie picarde}}, around [[Tournai]]), and [[Hesbaye]] around [[Waremme]]. South of the sillon industriel, the land is more rugged and is characterized by more [[extensive farming]]. It is traditionally divided into the regions of Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse, [[Condroz]], [[Fagne (natural region)|Fagne]]-[[Famenne]], the [[Ardennes]] and [[Land of Herve]], as well as the [[Belgian Lorraine]] around [[Arlon]] and [[Virton]]. Dividing it into [[Condroz]], [[Famenne]], [[Calestienne]], [[Ardennes]] (including [[Thiérache]]), and Belgian Lorraine (which includes the [[Gaume]]) is more reflective of the physical geography. The larger region, the Ardennes, is a thickly forested plateau with caves and small gorges. It is host to much of Belgium's wildlife but little agricultural capacity. This area extends westward into France and eastward to the [[Eifel]] in Germany via the [[High Fens]] plateau, on which the [[Signal de Botrange]] forms the highest point in Belgium at 694 metres (2,277&nbsp;ft).
[[File:Charleroi - place Charles II.jpg|150px|thumb|right|View of Charleroi]]