Terrain

The country's topography is that of a great fertile low lying plain which constitutes the north and west. South of central Belgium the terrain consists of rolling undulating hills and valleys that rise gradually to the east. Further south and to the east the hills give way to the mountainous Ardennes forests. The principal river in the southern Wallonia region is the Meuse with its tributaries the Semois, Sambre and Ourthe. The Scheldt with its tributaries is the principal river for the northern Flanders region.

Climate

Belgium has a cool and temperate climate with strong maritime influences. The lowland areas are characterized by changing winds, summer thunderstorms with drizzle and an overcast sky. The northwest area is characterized by a mild climate with fog. The interior experiences more extreme summers while winters in the upland regions are colder.

Fauna/Flora

There are several rare bird species like the Black necked grebe, the Peregrine falcon and the Black grouse. Colonial species include the Cormorant, Lesser black backed gull, and the Blue heron. Other rare species include the White fronted goose and the Mandarin duck. Wild animals include the fox, the European badger, the hare, the beech marten, weasel and the polecat. At least 730 species of spontaneous flowering plants ("wild plants") are present in Brussels, which represents half of the Belgian flora. Wastelands strongly contribute to this great diversity. Some of the animals found here are very rare, such as the black henbane, the earthnut pea, the white ramping-fumitory, and the mullein.

History/Politics

Present-day Belgium occupied part of the Roman province of Belgica, named after the Belgae, a people of ancient Gaul. The area was conquered by Julius Caesar in BC 57-50, then overrun by the Franks in the 5th century AD. It was part of Charlemagne's empire in the 8th century, was absorbed into Lotharingia in the 9th century, and later into the duchy of Lower Lorraine. In the 12th century it was partitioned into the duchies of Brabant and Luxembourg, the bishopric of Liege, and the domain of the count of Hainaut, which included Flanders. In the 16th century, Belgium passed to the duchy of Burgundy and was inherited by Charles V, who incorporated it into his Holy Roman Empire. Then, in 1555, the low countries were united with Spain.

By the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, the country's sovereignty passed to Austria. During the wars that followed the French Revolution, Belgium was occupied and later annexed by France. But with the downfall of Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna in 1815 gave the country to the Netherlands. The Belgians revolted in 1830 and declared independence. German forces occupied Belgium in 1914. The Treaty of Versailles (1919) gave the areas of Eupen, Malmédy, and Moresnet to Belgium.

Leopold III succeeded Albert, king during World War I, in 1934. In World War II, Belgium was overwhelmed by Nazi Germany, and Leopold III was held prisoner. When he attempted to return in 1950, socialists and liberals revolted. He abdicated on 16 July 1951, and his son, Baudouin, became king. Because of growing opposition to Belgian rule in its African colonies, Belgium granted independence to the Congo in 1960 and to Ruanda-Urundi (now the nations of Rwanda and Burundi) in 1962. Guy Verhofstadt of the Liberal Party was elected Prime Minister in July 1999. King Albert II has been chief of state since 9 August 1993.

Economy

Belgium's economy is reliant on services, transportation, trade, and manufacturing. Coal mining, which has declined in recent years, and the production of steel, chemicals, and cement are concentrated in the Sambre and Meuse valleys, in the Borinage around Mons, Charleroi, Namur, and Liege. The petrochemical industry is concentrated near the oil refineries of Antwerp. Textiles production, which began in the Middle Ages, includes cotton, linen and wool. Other industries include diamond cutting, cement and glass production, and the processing of leather and wood. 2% of the active population is employed in the agricultural sector, with 25% in manufacturing and 73% in the services sector. The unemployment rate amounted to 8.4% in 2000.

Culture

Early Belgian artists are credited with inventing oil painting. The Flemish Jan van Eyck started it all in the 15th century, Pieter Brueghel followed with his portrayals of peasant life in the 16th century, and Pieter Paul Rubens dominated early 17th century art as the leading light of the Baroque period. At the turn of this century, the sinuous architecture of Art Nouveau started in Brussels led by Henri van de Velde and Victor Horta. Horta was famed for his interiors, which avoided straight lines - ceilings simply became curved continuations of walls.