Burundi -- Geography
Area
total:
27,830 sq
km
land:
25,650 sq
km
water:
2,180
sq km
Location
Burundi is
located in
Eastern Africa,
between 20
and 30' 40
and 30' South,
longitude
290 and 310
East. It is
bordered on
the north
by Rwanda,
on the west
by Zaire,
and on the
south and
east by Tanzania.
Physical
Description
Burundi lies
on the Great
African Plateau
formed by
the Nile and
Zaire River
basins. The
western slopes
of the ridge-line
forming these
rivers descend
abruptly into
the Great
East African
Rift Valley
toward the
Rusizi Plain
and Lake Tanganyika.
The eastern
slopes rise
toward the
central uplands.
Three natural
regions are
thus formed:
the Rift Valley
called the
Imbo, along
the western
border; the
eastern zone,
known as the
Kumoso; and
the central
mountain region.
The Rift Valley
is a narrow
plain that
runs along
the Rusizi
River and
the shores
of Lake Tanganyika,
ending in
the foothills
on the western
Zaire-Nile
divide. The
entire Rift
Valley lies
below 3,500
feet in elevation.
The Komoso
is formed
by central
and eastern
plateaus,
with an average
elevation
of 6,000 feet,
and by savannas
along the
eastern border,
where the
average elevation
is 3,400 feet.
The central
mountain region
is formed
by a series
of ridges
running north
to south that
is generally
less than
16 kilometers
wide and 8,000
feet high.
The eastern
slope of this
range in south-central
Burundi gives
rise to the
headwaters
of the Rwanda
River, one
of the sources
of the Nile.
Climate
Although Burundi
is located
within 50
degrees of
the equator,
none of its
regions is
uncomfortably
hot. Burundi's
climate differs
from that
of the adjoining
Zaire basin
because its
higher elevations
moderate temperatures.
The central
plateau enjoys
pleasant weather,
with a temperature
averaging
20 C (68 F).
The Imbo region
is warmer,
with an average
annual temperature
of 25 C (77
F). The higher
elevations
of the eastern
plateau are
generally
cooler, with
temperatures
below 19 C
(66 F). The
eastern savannas
are hotter,
with average
temperatures
reaching 23
C (73 F).
June, July,
August, January
and February
are generally
dry months.
A long wet
season lasts
from March
to May; a
short wet
season begins
in September
and ends in
December.
Rainfall is
commonly irregular,
with heaviest
concentrations
of rain in
the northwest.
Rainfall on
the plateaus
averages 119.4
centimeters,
declining
in the lower
regions to
76.2 centimeters
per year.
Violent rainstorms
are frequent
at the higher
elevations.
Forests
Much of Burundi's
natural vegetation
has been cut
to allow for
cultivation.
The forest
that once
covered the
slopes and
high plateaus
has been felled,
the land transformed
by plowing
and by brush
fires intended
to enrich
the soil or
to provide
fresh pasturage
in the dry
season. Deforestation
has resulted
in gulleying,
severe surface
erosion, and
the rapid
destruction
of the topsoil.
Natural vegetation
survives only
in Burundi's
lowest areas.
The shore
plain of Lake
Tanganyika
remains forested
savanna. The
shores of
the country's
rivers and
lakes are
covered with
bamboo and
swamp plants.
Lakes
and Rivers
Burundi's
rivers flow
into two basins
of two major
rivers, the
Zaire and
the Nile.
The most important
river flowing
into the Zaire
basin is the
Rusizi, which
has its source
in Lake Kivu
and forms
the border
between Zaire
and Burundi.
Among its
many tributaries
are the Lua,
which forms
part of the
border with
Rwanda; the
Nyamagana;
the Kaburantwa;
and the Mpanda.
Other rivers
flowing into
Lake Tanganyika
include the
Ndahangwa,
the Doma,
the Mulembwe
and the Nyengwe.
The Ruvubu
and Kagera
are the southeastern
sources of
the Nile.
The Kagera
forms the
border between
Burundi and
Rwanda, as
does part
of the Kanyaru.
The Ruvubu
separates
Burundi from
Tanzania.
Burundi's
southeastern
region is
drained by
the Muragarazi,
which forms
the border
with Tanzania.
Natural
Resources
Natural resources
include nickel,
uranium, rare
earth oxide,
peat, cobalt,
copper, platinum
(as yet unexploited),
vanadium
Land
Use Arable
land is about
43%; permanent
crops 8%;
meadows and
pastures 35%;
forest and
woodland 2%;
and other
uses adds
up to 12%.
Irrigated
Land In
a 1989 estimated,
about 720
sq. km of
the land was
irrigated.
Environmental
Concerns
Environmental
concerns include
oil exhaustion
and erosion;
deforestation;
habitat loss
for threatened
wildlife populations.
Burundi is
party to international
agreements
protecting
Endangered
Species; It
has signed
but not ratified
agreements
on Biodiversity,
Climate Change,
Law of the
Sea, and Nuclear
Test Ban.
Sources:
Encyclopedia
of the Third
World, 1993,
pg. 273.
CIA World
Fact Book.
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