LocationCentral Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo Geographic coordinates3 30 S, 30 00 E Map referencesAfrica Areatotal: 27,830 sq km Area - comparativeslightly smaller than Maryland Land boundariestotal: 974 km Coastline0 km (landlocked) Maritime claimsnone (landlocked) Climateequatorial; 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) Terrainhilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains Elevation extremeslowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m Natural resourcesnickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone Land usearable land: 35.57% Irrigated land210 sq km (2003) Total renewable water resources3.6 cu km (1987) Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)total: 0.29 cu km/yr (17%/6%/77%) Natural hazardsflooding; landslides; drought Environment - current issuessoil 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 agreementsparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands Geography - notelandlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote headstream of the White Nile |
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Source: CIA World Factbook | |
