Geography

Area

Climate

temperate climate with two rainy periods (February to April, November to January); mild temperatures in mountainous regions, where frost and snow may occur

Terrain

predominantly grassy highlands and hills; the terrain is mountainous, with elevation decreasing from west to east

Land use

Location

Located in Central Africa, to the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and north of Burundi

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

Irrigated land

96 sq km (2012)

Map references

Africa

Land boundaries

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

experiences occasional droughts; the volcanic Virunga Mountains are situated in the northwest, bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo

volcanism: Visoke (3,711 m), the only historically active volcano in the country, is located on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geography - note

a landlocked nation; the majority of the territory is rugged and intensively farmed, with a largely rural population

Natural resources

gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, cultivable land

Area - comparative

slightly smaller in size than Maryland

Geographic coordinates

2 00 S, 30 00 E

Population distribution

recognized as one of the most densely populated nations in Africa; significant population clusters are found in the central areas and along the western shores of Lake Kivu, as illustrated in this population distribution map

Major lakes (area sq km)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Major rivers (by length in km)

Source of the Nile river (shared with Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km

note: [s] following the country name indicates river source; [m] following the country name indicates river mouth