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
water: 1,390 sq km
land: 24,948 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: 40.54%
permanent crops: 12.16%
other: 47.3% (2001) |
| Irrigated land: | 40 sq km (1998 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, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
| Geography - note: | landlocked; most of the country is savanna grassland with the population predominantly rural
Source: CIA World Factbook
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