List of rivers of Burundi

This list of rivers in Burundi is a partial list of the larger rivers, arranged by drainage basin, with tributaries indented under each parent stream's name. The coordinates given for each river are those of the mouth, if in Burundi, or of the last point in Burundi if the river flows into Rwanda or Tanzania.

Map of Burundi showing the main rivers and tributeries.

Lake Victoria

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Lake Victoria drains through the Victoria Nile, White Nile and Nile into the Mediterranean Sea. The Burundi portion of the Lake Victoria Basin drains via the Kagera River (2°24′44″S 30°32′50″E / 2.41231°S 30.54727°E / -2.41231; 30.54727 (Akagera (border))), through its tributaries the Akanyaru River in the west, Lake Rweru in the north, and the Rurubu River in the center and east of Burundi.

Akanyaru basin

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Akanyaru River

The Akanyaru River, which leaves Burundi at 2°19′27″S 29°57′43″E / 2.32429°S 29.96195°E / -2.32429; 29.96195 (Akanyaru (border)), defines the border between northern Burundi to the east and southern Rwanda to the west. It joins the Nyabarongo River in Rwanda, a tributary of the Kagera River.

Right tributaries flowing from Burundi include:

Lake Rweru basin

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Lake Rweru is drained by the Kagera River and/or the Nyabarongo River depending on the time of year. Rivers flowing into the lake from Burundi include:

Rurubu basin

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Mubarazi River

The Rurubu River, which leaves Burundi at 2°39′03″S 30°32′00″E / 2.65087°S 30.53341°E / -2.65087; 30.53341 (Rurubu (border)), drains most of central and northern Burundi. It is a tributary of the Nyabarongo River, in turn a tributary of the Kagera River.

Right tributaries include:

Left tributaries include:

Lake Tanganyika

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Lake Tanganyika drains through the Lukuga River, Lualaba River and Congo River into the Atlantic Ocean. The west and south of Burundi drains into the lake.

Via the Ruzizi River

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Ruzizi River

The Ruzizi River flows south from Lake Kivu to Lake Tanganyika, forming the boundary between Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Several rivers in Burundi flow west from the Congo-Nile ridge into the Ruzizi.

Directly into Lake Tanganyika

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Bujumbura & Lake Tanganyika

Lake Tanganyika forms the western boundary of Burundi south of the Ruzizi. Various rivers empty directly ino the lake:

Via the Malagarasi River

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The Malagarasi River originates near Lake Tanganyika, and flows away from the lake, northeast along the boundary between southeast Burundi and Tanzania. It turn southwest, then south through Tanzania, then turns west and flows into Lake Tanganyika. It drains the southeast lowlands of Burundi. Major left tributaries in Burundi, from upstream to downstream, include:

See also

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References

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  • Investment opportunities in renewable energy Burundi (PDF), Minister for Energy and Mines, October 2012, p. 14, retrieved 2024-08-31
    A general map showing all the major rivers, indicating actual and potential hydroelectric sites.
  • U.S. Defense Mapping Agency, Burundi Topographic Maps 1:50,000 Series Z724, University of Texas at Austin, retrieved 2024-09-02
    A collection of detailed topographic maps covering all of Burundi.