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GEOGRAPHY
Cities:
Capital- Amsterdam (pop. 1,100,000). Others-The Hague, seat of
government, (pop. 695,000); Rotterdam, the world's busiest port
(1,074,000) Utrecht (pop. 545,000).
Terrain: Coastal lowland.
Climate: Northern maritime.
Location:
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
comparative
area: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land
boundaries: total 1,027 km, Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
International
disputes: none
Climate:
temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
Terrain: mostly coastal
lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast
Natural
resources: natural gas, petroleum, fertile soil
meadows and pastures:
32%
Irrigated
land: 5,500 sq km (1989 est.)
current issues: water
pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and
nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from
vehicles and refining activities; acid rain
natural hazards:
the extensive system of dikes and dams, protects nearly one-half
of the total area from being flooded
international
agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen
Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur
94, Biodiversity, Desertification, Law of the Sea
Note:
located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas
or Meuse, and Schelde)
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