AFRICAN
CONSERVATION AND WEB SITES FOR AFRICA FROM AFRICANWEBSITES.NET
PROFILE
ON BURUNDI
Relief
Map of Burundi - 228K
Burundi is only small in area, comprising 27,834 sq km (10,747 sq miles),
bordered to the north by Rwanda, by Zaire to the west and by Tanzania to
the east. The natural divide between Burundi and the Democratic Republic
of Congo is formed by Lake Tanganyika and the Ruzizi river on t he floor
of the western rift-valley system.
To the east, the land rises sharply to elevations of around 1,800m above
sea-level in a range that stretches north into the much higher, and volcanic,
mountains of Rwanda. Away from the edge of the rift valley, elevations are
lower, and most of Burundi consists of plateaux of 1,400 - 1,800m. Here the
average temperature is 20 degrees C and annual rainfall 1,200mm. In the valley
the temperature averages 23 degrees C, while rainfall is much lower at 750mm.
Plant and animal life
The natural forest vegetation has almost entirely disappeared from the landscape
and is limited now primarily to higher mountain slopes. On the plateau, wooded
savanna is found at higher elevations, giving way to more-open savanna on
the lower slopes. Poaching has dealt a severe blow to the country's wildlife.
The elephant population has virtually disappeared, leaving only waterbuck,
warthogs, baboons, and antelope as the less endangered species.
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