Burundi Geography
LocationCentral Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates
3 30 S, 30 00 E
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: 35.05%
permanent crops: 14.02%
other: 50.93% (2001)
Irrigated land
740 sq km (1998 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note
landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote headstream of the White Nile
