What is the terrain and geography like in Burkina Faso?
Much of Burkina lies in the Sahel, the fringe of the Sahara. The north gradually dries out into scrub and semi-desert, but comes to life during the rainy season, with green shrubs and thorn trees. Toward the south are areas of savannah and wooded savannah, including the shea and baobab trees that are of agricultural importance. Wildlife in Burkina’s eastern and southern areas includes elephants, antelope, hippos, monkeys, crocodiles, lions and buffalo. Bird and insect life is rich and varied.
Geographic Location | Africa |
Total Area |
105,869 Square Miles 274,200 Square Kilometers |
Land Area |
105,714 Square Miles 273,800 Square Kilometers |
Water Area |
154 Square Miles 400 Square Kilometers |
Land Boundaries |
1,984 Miles 3,193 Kilometers |
Irrigated Land |
97 Square Miles 250 Square Kilometers |
Border Countries | Benin 306 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 549 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km |
Geographic Coordinates | 13 00 N, 2 00 W |
Terrain | mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast |
Highest Point | 749 Meters |
Highest Point Location | Tena Kourou 749 m |
Lowest Point | 200 Meters |
Lowest Point Location | Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m |
Natural Resources | manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver |
Time Zone | UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) |