Formerly Upper Volta, republic in western Africa, bounded on the north and west by Mali, on the east by Niger, and on the south by Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire. The area of Burkina Faso is 274,200 sq km (105,900 sq mi). Ouagadougou is the capital and largest city.
Burkina Faso is located on a plateau sloping generally to the south and situated from about 200 to 700 m (about 650 to 2,300 ft) in elevation. The plateau is drained to the south by the Black Volta (Mouhoun), Red Volta (Nazinon), and White Volta (Nakanbe) rivers and to the east by small rivers connecting with the Niger; none are navigable. Most of the country is covered with grass and small trees. Animals include the elephants, hippopotamuses, buffalo, antelope, and crocodiles.
A dry, cool season in Burkina Faso extends from November through March; a hot, dry one from April through May; and a hot, wet one from June through October. Rainfall decreases from more than 1,000 mm (more than 40 in) in the southwest (the most agriculturally productive part of the country) to less than 250 mm (less than 10 in) in the north and is heaviest in the summer. Average temperatures in Ouagadougou vary from 24°C (76°F) in January to 28°C (83°F) in July.
Burkina Faso is known to have rich deposits of manganese and gold and also resources of copper, iron ore, cassiterite (tin ore), and phosphates. Water
supply is a problem in so dry a country and offers few opportunities for irrigation. Some 12 percent of the land is cultivated.
Kibidwe district (old part of town), Bobo-Dioulasso, Houet
