1 GeoFroggy

Background

Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) achieved independence from France in 1960. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980s were followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Current President Blaise COMPAORE came to power in a 1987 military coup and has won every election since then. There have been increasing protests over the belief that the president may try to run for a currently unconstitutional third term in the 2015 presidential elections. Burkina Faso's high population growth and limited natural resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens.

Location

Western Africa, north of Ghana

Area Comparative

Slightly larger than Colorado

Maritime Claims

none (landlocked)

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

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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
Year

Map Reference

  • Africa

Irrigated Land 2003

  • 250 sq km

Area 2014

  • Total
    274,200 sq km
  • Land
    273,800 sq km
  • Water
    400 sq km

Coastline

  • 0 km

Geographical Coordinates

  • 13 00 N, 2 00 W

Land use 2014

  • Arable Land
    20.79%
  • Permanent Crops
    0.24%
  • Other
    78.98%

Terrain

  • Mostly flat to dissected
  • Undulating plains; hills in west and southeast

Elevation

  • Lowest Point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
  • Highest Point: Tena Kourou 749 m

Land Boundaries

  • Total
    3,193 km
  • Benin km
  • Cote D'Ivoire
    584 km
  • Ghana
    549 km
  • Mali
    1,000 km
  • Niger
    628 km
  • Togo
    126 km

Natural Resources

  • Manganese
  • Limestone
  • Marble; small deposits of gold
  • Phosphates
  • Pumice
  • Salt
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