|
| Location: |
Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
|
| Geographic coordinates: |
2 00 S, 30 00 E
|
| Area: |
total:
26,338 sq km
land:
24,948 sq km
water:
1,390 sq km
|
| Area - comparative: |
slightly smaller than Maryland
|
| Land boundaries: |
total:
893 km
border countries:
Burundi 290 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 217 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km
|
| Coastline: |
0 km (landlocked)
|
| Maritime claims: |
none (landlocked)
|
| Climate: |
temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
|
| Terrain: |
mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east
|
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Rusizi River 950 m
highest point:
Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m
|
| Natural resources: |
gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land
|
| Land use: |
arable land:
35%
permanent crops:
13%
permanent pastures:
18%
forests and woodland:
22%
other:
12% (1993 est.)
|
| Irrigated land: |
40 sq km (1993 est.)
|
| Natural hazards: |
periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo
|
| Environment - current issues: |
deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching
|
| Environment - international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
|
| Geography - note: |
landlocked; predominantly rural population
|
|
|
|
