highlands

Belgium has three main geographic regions: the coastal plain, the central plateau, and the highlands. The coastal plain extends inland 16 to 48 kilometers on the northwest. Along the North Sea is a low-lying area consisting mainly of sandy hills and sections of land reclaimed from the sea. The coastal plain’s elevation ranges from sea level to 20 meters.
     The central plateau is a gently rolling, slightly elevated area, irrigated by many waterways, and containing a number of wide fertile valleys with a rich soil. The highlands, a densely-wooded plateau averaging 460 meters in elevation, extend across southeastern Belgium and into northeastern France. Located here is the highest peak in Belgium with an elevation of 694 meters. The climate near the sea is humid and mild. Further inland, a marked increase in the range of temperature occurs. In the highlands, hot summers alternate with cold winters. Heavy rains are confined almost exclusively to the highlands. Fog and rain are common, and April and November are particularly rainy months. In Brussels, the average temperatures range from 0 to 5 degrees Centigrade in January, and from 13 to 22 degrees Centigrade in July. Along the coast, the average range is 1 to 5 degrees Centigrade in January, and 14 to 20 degrees Centigrade in July.