Rwanda: Geography#
| Location | Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo |
|---|---|
| Geographic Coordinates | 2 00 S, 30 00 E -2.0,30.0 |
| Area | total: 26,338 sq km land: 24,668 sq km water: 1,670 sq km [Verified in 8 databases] |
| 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) |
| Elevation Extremes | lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m |
| Highest Mountains | Due to difference in mountain rankings taken from two data sources we are listing here both lists : According to Wolfram: Mount Karisimbi 4507 m; Muhabura 4127 m; Mount Bisoke 3711 m; Mount Sabyinyo 3645 m; Gahinga 3525 m According to Geonames: Mont Muwogo 2990 m; Muhungwe 2928 m; Mont Kwiruhelo 2776 m; Kabuye 2643 m; Kamirantama 2598 m Attempted Explanation: Please help us to try to explain the discrepancies by sending us helpful information to office nospam@TUGraz.at @global-geography.org |
| Terrain | mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east |
| Natural Hazards | periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo volcanism: Visoke (elev. 3,711 m), located on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the country's only historically active volcano |
| Natural Resource | gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land |
| Land Use | arable land: 46.32% permanent crops: 9.49% other: 44.19% (2011) |
| Climate | temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible |
| Irrigated Land | 96.25 sq km (2007) |
| Renewable Water Resources | 9.5 cu km (2011) |
| Environment_CurrentIssues | deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
| Large Cities | Due to difference in city rankings taken from two data sources we are listing here both lists : According to Wolfram: Kigali; Butare; Gitarama; Ruhengeri; Gisenyi According to Geonames: Kigali; Butare; Gitarama; Musanze; Gisenyi Attempted Explanation: Please help us to try to explain the discrepancies by sending us helpful information to office nospam@TUGraz.at @global-geography.org Important Cities |
| Geography-note | landlocked; most of the country is savanna grassland with the population predominantly rural |