Physical Geography

Most of Belgium—that part north of the Sambre-Meuse Valley—is in the Great European Plain, which extends from France far into Russia. The land is low-lying and flat along the coast and throughout most of the north, including Flanders and the Kempen region. Somewhat more rolling terrain, with elevations up to about 500 feet (150 m) above sea level, is typical of central Belgium. South of the Sambre-Meuse Valley lies the Ardennes, a wooded, flat-topped plateau cut by deep valleys. Elevations in the Ardennes increase from west to east, reaching a maximum of 2,277 feet (694 m) at Signal de Botrange near the German border.

Belgium is drained mainly by the Schelde and Meuse rivers and their tributaries. Both rivers begin in France, flow across Belgium, and enter the North Sea through the combined Rhine-Meuse-Schelde delta in the Netherlands. Tributaries of the Schelde include the Leie, Dender, and Rupel; among those of the Meuse are the Sambre, Ourthe, and Semois. The only lakes are tiny ones in the Ardennes.

Although Belgium lies at a more northerly latitude than New England, it has a mild climate. The weather is conditioned mainly by westerly winds that bring the moderating influences of the North Atlantic Current inland. Temperatures average near 65° F. (18° C.) during July and around 35° F. (2° C.) during January. There is much foggy, damp weather, especially along the coast. Precipitation averages about 30 inches (760 mm) a year on the lowlands, 40 inches (1,020 mm) in the Ardennes. Snowfalls are generally light.