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Location: Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of
the Congo
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
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 Birunga
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
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