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Luxembourg:
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Other pages in this profile of Luxembourg:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
Definition Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half of its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure of autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germany in both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it entered into the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the following year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the European Economic Community (later the European Union), and in 1999 it joined the euro currency area. |
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Location |
Definition Western Europe, between France and Germany |
Geographic coordinates |
Definition 49 45 N, 6 10 E |
Map references |
Definition Europe |
Area |
Definition - World rank and map total: 2,586 sq km land: 2,586 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative |
Definition slightly smaller than Rhode Island |
Land boundaries |
Definition total: 359 km border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km |
Coastline |
Definition 0 km (landlocked) |
Maritime claims |
Definition none (landlocked) |
Climate |
Definition modified continental with mild winters, cool summers |
Terrain |
Definition mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle flood plain in the southeast |
Elevation extremes |
Definition lowest point: Moselle River 133 m highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m |
Natural resources |
Definition iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land |
Land use |
Definition - World rank and map arable land: 27.42% permanent crops: 0.69% other: 71.89% (includes Belgium) (2005) |
Irrigated land |
Definition NA |
Total renewable water resources |
Definition 1.6 cu km (2005) |
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) |
Definition total: 0.06 cu km/yr (42%/45%/13%) per capita: 121 cu m/yr (1999) |
Natural hazards |
Definition NA |
Environment - current issues |
Definition air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland |
Environment - international agreements |
Definition 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, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification |
Geography - note |
Definition landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world |
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Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |