|
|
| Location | Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo | | | Geographic coordinates | 3 30 S, 30 00 E | | | Zone | Africa | | | Area | total: 27,830 sq km
land: 25,650 sq km
water: 2,180 sq km | | | 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; two wet seasons (February to May and September to November), and two dry seasons (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: Heha 2,670 m | | | Natural resources | nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone | | | Irrigated land | 0 km (landlocked) | | | 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, Wetlands
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 | |
|
