Natural regions of Burundi

The Natural regions of Burundi (Régions naturelles du Burundi) are geographical subdivisions of Burundi that date to colonial times. They can be broadly grouped into the Plain zone in the west beside Lake Tanganyika and the East African Rift valley, the Congo-Nile ridge, the Central Plateaus and the Depressions to the north, east and south of the plateaus.

Context
Burundi is mostly between 1,500 and 2,000 m above sea level. The highest ridges reach 2,670 m and the lowest area is at 774 m beside Lake Tanganyika. It can be divided into four general topological zones: the Plain zone, holding the natural region of Imbo, with an altitude less than 1,000 m; the Congo-Nile ridge including the Mumirwa and Mugamba natural regions; the Central Plateaus including Kirimiro, Buyogoma, Bututsi, Bweru and Buyenzi; and the Depressions of Moso in the east, Buragane in the south, and Bugesera in the north.

Burundi may also be divided into five ecological zones: The first three are the same as the topological zones: the Imbo Plain, Congo-Nile Crest and Central Plateaus. The fourth is the Kumoso Depression, including the Moso and Buragane natural regions. The fifth is the Bugesera Depression in the north.

The original nine natural regions were based in part on geography, geology and climate, but also considered history, the economy and society. They were Imbo, Mumirwa, Mugamba, Buyenzi, Buyogoma, Bweru, Bututsi, Moso and Kirimiro. The current eleven regions are based on relief, climate, altitude and the nature of the soil. They are Imbo, Mumirwa, Mugamba and Bututsi in the west; Buyenzi, Bweru, Kirimiro and Buyogoma in the center; Moso and Buragane in the east; and Bugesera in the north.

Plain zone
A large part of the population of the Plain zone is urban, including residents of the capital Bujumbura and the cities of Rumonge and Nyanza Lac. It was politically separate from the Kingdom of Burundi until the start of the twentieth century.

Imbo natural region
The Imbo region (Région naturelle d'Imbo) extends along the East African Rift valley and the shore of Lake Tanganyika. The region covers the west of the Cibitoke Province and Bubanza Province, all of Mairie Province, the west of Bujumbura Province, Bururi Province and Makamba Province. The Imbo region is a narrow strip along the east of the Rusizi River and Lake Tanganyika. It has a flat or slightly undulating topography. It is easily flooded by mountain torrents in the rainy season, and is quite dry in the dry season, which lasts four to six months. Temperatures range from 24 to 30 C.

Congo-Nile ridge
The Congo-Nile ridge is an immense steep slope with very rugged relief that forms the divide between the Nile and the Congo River. Mumirwa natural region covers the western foothills, or "Mirwa", of the ridge, while Mugamba natural region contains the highest part of the ridge. The two natural regions have many common characteristics.

Mumirwa natural region
The Mumirwa region (Région naturelle de Mumirwa) is one of large hills that penetrate the central plateaus. It was defined during the colonial era. Before then, Mumirwa and Imbo were one region. The Mumirwa region extends from north to south through the central part of Cibitoke Province, the east of Bubanza Province and the central parts of Bujumbura Province and Bururi Province, extending into the northest of Makamba Province. The Mumirwa region is part of the western slope of the Congo–Nile Divide, above the plains along the Rusizi River and Lake Tanganyika, and below the high peaks of the divide, with altitudes of 1000 to 1900 m. All the rivers flowing from the mountains of Burundi into the Congo Basin run through the region. The climate is intermediate between the Imbo plain and the mountains. Temperatures are 18 to 28 C, averaging 20 C. Annual rainfall is 1100 to 1900 mm, with a dry season lasting about three months. There are deep, humus-rich soils in the floors of the valleys, while the steep slopes have poor, eroded soils.

Mugamba natural region


The Mugamba ("Cow") region (Région naturelle de Mugamba) has a cool climate, and was a region where livestock were the basis of the economy. The Mugamba region extends from north to south through the east of Cibitoke Province, the west of Kayanza Province and Muramvya Province, the east of Bujumbura Province, the west of Mwaro Province and the north of Bururi Province. Mugamba contains the highest peaks of the country: Heha at 2,670 m, Teza at 2,655 m and Twinyoni at 2,652 m.

Central Plateaus
The Central Plateaus contain the natural regions of Kirimiro, Buyogoma, Bututsi, Bweru and Buyenzi, and is mostly 1,500 to 1,800 m above sea level. The term "central plateaus" is somewhat misleading, since there is varied topography including very steep slopes. Water courses cut deeply through the terrain, separting many hills.

Kirimiro natural region
The Kirimiro region (Région naturelle de Kirimiro) has many abundant crops. It covers the east of Muramvya Province and Mwaro Province, and most of Gitega Province. Altitude ranges from 1500 to 2000 m, sloping down gradually from west to east. The region has a mild, humid tropical climate, with annual precipitation between 1040 and 1400 mm. Temperatures are between 15 and 20 C, with average of 17 - 18 C.

As of 2014 the Kirimiro natural region was the most densely populated of the natural regions, with over 287,179 agricultural households, or 18.4% of agricultural households in Burundi. Kirimo had about 1,492,520 inhabitants, or 17.8% of the total agricultural population. Kirimiro natural region and the 502135 ha Kirimiro coffee-growing region have much the same boundaries. The relatively cool climate and low rainfall are not ideal for growing coffee.

Buyogoma natural region
The Buyogoma region (Région naturelle de Buyogoma) was integrated with Burundi in the nineteenth century under King Ntare Rugamba. The region covers the southeast of Karuzi Province and the northwest of Cankuzo Province, Ruyigi Province and Rutana Province. In Buyogoma, lithosols develop on ferruginous crusts on the tops of the hills, often with very hard lateritic beds. Humic ferralitic soils are found in the lowlands.

Bututsi natural region
The colonial natural region of Bututsi was region where many of the people were Tutsi, living mostly by livestock but with some agriculture. The region covers the east of Bururi Province. As of 2014 the Bututsi natural region had 44,914 agricultural households, or 2.9% of agricultural households in Burundi.

Bweru natural region
The Bweru region (Région naturelle du Bweru) is rich agricultarlly. 12% of Kirundo Province, is in the Bweru natural region, including the Commune of Vumbi and the south of the Commune of Gitobe. The region covers the south part of the Muyinga Province, the east of Ngozi Province and the north part of Karuzi Province. As of 2014 the Bweru natural region had 176,101 agricultural households, or 11.3% of agricultural households in Burundi.

Buyenzi natural region
The Buyenzi natural region covers most of Ngozi Province and the east half of Kayanza Province. As of 2014 the Buyenzi natural region had 243,336 agricultural households, or 15.6% of agricultural households in Burundi. The Buyenzi region has 1,237,000 people engaged in agriculture, or 14.8% of the total agricultural population.

Depressions
The Depressions hold the natural regions of Moso in the east, Buragane in the south and Bugesera in the north. They are 1,000 to 1,200 m above sea level. The Kumoso Depression ecological region extends over the Moso natural region and the Buragane natural region, and does not include Bugesera. To the west it is bounded by the slopes of the eastern part of the central plateaus, to the northeast by Tanzania and to the south by the southern termination of the Congo-Nile ridge. Altitude is 1150 to 1400 m.

Moso natural region
The Moso natural region is a depression in the east of the country dominated by the Nkoma massif. It is hot, and there is always the threat of drought. The region covers the southeast of Cankuzo Province, Ruyigi Province and Rutana Province and the east of Makamba Province.

Buragane natural region
The Buragane natural region is similar to Moso, It is hot, and there is always the threat of drought. The region covers the central part of Makamba Province and extends into the southwest of Rutana Province. As of 2014 the Bugarane natural region had about 22,244 agricultural households, or 1.4% of agricultural households in Burundi. Buragane region has about 145,149 people in agricultural households, or 1.7% of Burundi's agricultural population.

Bugesera natural region
Bugasera (Région naturelle du Bugesera) is a vast batholith, a depression of granite rocks. It suffers from periodic drought. The region covers most of Kirundo Province and the north part of Muyinga Province. The central plateau has an altitude of 1500 to 2000 m, and the north is lower, with an average altitude of 1300 m. The Bugesera region is part of the Kirundo district, a depression in the inter-lacustrine zone of East Africa that extends across northeastern Burundi and southeastern Rwanda. It is bounded to the west by the Kanyaru River valley. To the north, east and south it is bounded by dissected plateaus that rise above it. The depression contains large valleys holdng Holocene sediments, swamps and shallow lakes.