Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

3 30 S, 30 00 E

Africa

total: 27,830 sq km
land: 25,650 sq km
water: 2,180 sq km

slightly smaller than Maryland

total: 974 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda 290
km, Tanzania 451 km

0 km (landlocked)

none (landlocked)

equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation
(772 m to 2,670 m); 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; wet seasons from February to May and September to November,
and dry seasons from June to August and December to January

hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some
plains

lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
highest point: Mount Heha 2,670 m

nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt,
copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium, arable land,
hydropower

arable land: 44%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 36%
forests and woodland: 3%
other: 8% (1993 est.)

140 sq km (1993 est.)

flooding, landslides

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

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo
watershed