Short facts about the geography of Burundi

Location:

Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates:

3 30 S, 30 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total:  27,830 sq km land:  25,650 sq km water:  2,180 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total:  974 km border countries:  Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; wet seasons from February to May and September to November, and dry seasons from June to August and December to January

Terrain:

hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Lake Tanganyika 772 m highest point:  Mount Heha 2,670 m

Natural resources:

nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium, arable land, hydropower

Land use:

arable land:  44% permanent crops:  9% permanent pastures:  36% forests and woodland:  3% other:  8% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

140 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

flooding, landslides, drought

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified:  Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Geography - note:

landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed

Source: World Factbook