9781422277942

BELGIUM’S GEOGRAPHY & LANDSCAPE

Red Flanders Poppy The common poppy, also known as the Flanders poppy, is the national flower of Belgium. It was a common sight among the trenches and battlefields during World War I, and has become synonymous with the great loss of life during that war. Today, the poppy is associated with World Wars I and II. To see such beautiful flowers growing across fields where thousands of men died leaves an impression on the minds of all those who witness them.

Wallonia In the south lies the French-speaking region of Wallonia. Here, the flatlands are replaced by the rolling hills of the Ardennes and the fertile valley beyond. The Ardennes in the southeast are forested and hilly, with steep river valleys. The valleys of the river Meuse are especially steep. Here, one finds the highest point in Belgium, the Signal de Botrange, at an elevation of 2,277 feet (694 meters). Sparsely populated, with only 125 inhabitants per square mile, the region is predominantly rural. Its loamy, chalky soil is suitable for agriculture. South of the Ardennes, the hills give way to wide fertile valleys where most of Belgium’s crops are grown. Sugar beet, potatoes, wheat, barley, apples, tomatoes, oats, corn (maize), chicory (endive), and flax are all cultivated here. A characteristic feature of the region is its many grottoes . The caves have been formed over thousands of years as water containing carbonic acid has carved a path through the chalky rock.

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