The 2008 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ marine:

      total: 79 by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, container 6, liquefied gas 20, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off 10 foreign-owned: 6 (Denmark 4, France 2) registered in other countries: 111 (Bahamas 15, Cyprus 2, France 6, Gibraltar 2, Greece 16, Hong Kong 3, Liberia 4, Luxembourg 7, Malta 15, Mozambique 2, Netherlands 2, Netherlands Antilles 1, Panama 2, Portugal 1, Portugal 7, Russia 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 8, Vanuatu 4) (2008)

      Ports and terminals:

      Antwerp, Gent, Liege, Zeebrugge

      Military

       Belgium

      Military branches:

      Belgian Armed Forces: Land Operations Command, Naval Operations

       Command, Air Operations Command (2008)

      Military service age and obligation:

      18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription suspended (2008)

      Manpower available for military service:

      males age 16–49: 2,407,128 females age 16–49: 2,340,039 (2008 est.)

      Manpower fit for military service:

      males age 16–49: 1,973,167 females age 16–49: 1,915,990 (2008 est.)

      Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

      male: 64,659 female: 61,881 (2008 est.)

      Military expenditures:

      1.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

      Transnational Issues

       Belgium

      Disputes - international:

      none

      Illicit drugs:

      growing producer of synthetic drugs and cannabis; transit point for US-bound ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe; despite a strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco; significant domestic consumption of ecstasy

      This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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      @Belize

      Introduction

       Belize

      Background:

      Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include an unsustainable foreign debt, high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, growing urban crime, and increasing incidences of HIV/AIDS.

      Geography

       Belize

      Location:

      Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and

       Mexico

      Geographic coordinates:

      17 15 N, 88 45 W

      Map references:

      Central America and the Caribbean

      Area:

      total: 22,966 sq km land: 22,806 sq km water: 160 sq km

      Area - comparative:

      slightly smaller than Massachusetts

      Land boundaries:

      total: 516 km border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

      Coastline:

      386 km

      Maritime claims:

      territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 nm; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

      Climate:

      tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)

      Terrain:

      flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

      Elevation extremes:

      lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Doyle's Delight 1,160 m

      Natural resources:

      arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

      Land use:

      arable land: 3.05% permanent crops: 1.39% other: 95.56% (2005)

      Irrigated land:

      30 sq km (2003)

      Total renewable water resources:

      18.6 cu km (2000)

      Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

      total: 0.15 cu km/yr (7%/73%/20%) per capita: 556 cu m/yr (2000)

      Natural hazards:

      frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

      Environment - current issues:

      deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal

      Environment - international agreements:

      party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

      Geography - note:

      only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

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