Geography of Rwanda

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The geography of Rwanda is defined by its position in the Eastern African highlands, a few degrees south of the Equator and near the western branch of the East African Rift. Rwanda's territory covers 26,338 km2 (10,169 sq mi), making it the 144th largest country in the world and one of the smallest mainland countries in Africa. Bordered by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, it is landlocked and has no coastline, and lies between latitudes 1°03′ and 2°50′ S and longitudes 28°52′ and 30°54′ E. Its land boundaries total 930 km (580 mi).

The major geomorphological divisions of Rwanda run from west to east: the Albertine Rift mountains, the central plateau and the eastern lowlands. The mountains of the west include the Virunga Mountains, a chain of volcanoes along the north-western border, and among them Mount Karisimbi, the highest peak in the country at 4,507 m (14,787 ft). East of them lies a plateau of rolling hills and steep ridges, which give Rwanda its nickname, the "Land of a Thousand Hills". The land falls away further eastward to the savannahs, plains and wetlands of the Akagera basin. The lowest ground, however, lies on the opposite side of the country: the Rusizi River at the Congolese border, 950 m (3,117 ft) above sea level.