Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El
Salvador and Mexico

15 30 N, 90 15 W

Central America and the Caribbean

total: 108,890 sq km
land: 108,430 sq km
water: 460 sq km

slightly smaller than Tennessee

total: 1,687 km
border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km,
Mexico 962 km

400 km

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling
limestone plateau (Peten)

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m

petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle,
hydropower

arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 5% (1993 est.)

1,250 sq km (1993 est.)

numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional
violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other
tropical storms

deforestation; soil erosion; water
pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol

no natural harbors on west coast