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Geography and Environment of Netherlands
Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of Netherlands.
Speed
Overview
The Netherlands is situated in Northwest Europe,reclaimed in part from the waters of the North Sea, The Netherlands is an artificially created land, half of which lies at or below sea level. The country possesses a flat terrain compromising mostly of coastal lowland, farmland, grassy dunes, and sandy beaches. The country is crisscrossed by numerous rivers and canals.
Detailed geography
Physical Features
- Terrain
- mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast
- Climate
- The Netherlands lies in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, and for the most part possesses a maritime climate. The summers are cool while winters are quite cold. The warmest months fall between July and September with temperatures ranging from 60-75°F. The winter months are long and dreary with strong winds and some snow. Temperatures range from 20-35°F. Due to the proximity of the sea, rain is quite common and spread pretty evenly all year round.
- Weather Patterns
- http://voap.weather.com/weather/oap/NLXX0002?template=TRVLH&par=1003114983&unit=0&key=5b85ae1d85877a1b34827fba743e2133
- Highest Point
- 322 — Vaalserberg 322 m
- Lowest Point
- -7 — Zuidplaspolder -7 m
Borders and Area
- Area (Comparative)
- slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
- Border Countries
- Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
Natural Resources and Hazards
- Natural Resources
- natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land
- Natural Hazards
- flooding
Environment and Land Use
- Current Environmental 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
- International Agreements
- party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements