Burkina Faso's Geography | Burkina Faso Geography

Location: Western Africa, north of Ghana

Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 2 00 W

Map references: Africa

Area: Total: 274,200 sq km land: 273,800 sq km water: 400 sq km

Area - comparative: Slightly larger than Colorado

Land boundaries: Total: 3,193 km border countries: Benin 306 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 549 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: None (landlocked)

Climate: Tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Terrain: Mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast

Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m

Natural resources: Manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, phosphates, pumice, salt

Land use: Arable land: 14.43% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 85.38% (2001)

Irrigated land: 250 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: Recurring droughts

Environment - current issues: Recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation

Environment - international agreements: Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note: Landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black, Red, and White Voltas

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