Geography of Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is a landlocked country located in West Africa. It is known for its
savanna grasslands, agriculture, cultural heritage, and mineral resources,
especially gold. Burkina Faso is an important country in African geography and
questions related to it are frequently asked in competitive examinations such as
UPSC, SSC, Railway, Banking, Defence, PSC, and various GK examinations.
Burkina Faso at a Glance
| Topic |
Information |
| Country |
Burkina Faso |
| Continent |
Africa |
| Region |
West Africa |
| Capital City |
Ouagadougou |
| Largest City |
Ouagadougou |
| Official Language |
French |
| Currency |
West African CFA Franc |
| Area |
About 274,200 km² |
| Population |
More than 23 Million |
| Independence Day |
5 August 1960 |
Location and Boundaries of Burkina Faso
| Direction |
Bordering Country |
| North |
Mali |
| East |
Niger |
| South-East |
Benin |
| South |
Togo and Ghana |
| South-West |
Ivory Coast |
Major Physical Features of Burkina Faso
| Physical Feature |
Important Fact |
| Central Plateau |
Major geographical region of the country |
| Savanna Grasslands |
Dominant natural vegetation |
| Sahel Region |
Dry northern region |
| Black Volta Basin |
Important river basin |
| Sandstone Hills |
Found in south-western areas |
Major Rivers of Burkina Faso
| River |
Important Fact |
| Black Volta River |
Important river of Burkina Faso |
| White Volta River |
Flows toward Ghana |
| Red Volta River |
Seasonal river system |
| Nazinon River |
Tributary of Volta River system |
Climate of Burkina Faso
| Region |
Climate Type |
| Northern Burkina Faso |
Hot Semi-Arid Climate |
| Central Region |
Tropical Savanna Climate |
| Southern Region |
Relatively Wetter Tropical Climate |
Natural Resources of Burkina Faso
| Resource |
Important Area / Use |
| Gold |
Major export mineral |
| Manganese |
Important mineral resource |
| Limestone |
Used in cement industry |
| Phosphate |
Used in fertilizers |
| Cotton |
Major agricultural export crop |
Agriculture of Burkina Faso
| Crop |
Importance |
| Cotton |
Main cash crop |
| Millet |
Staple food crop |
| Sorghum |
Widely cultivated grain |
| Maize |
Important food crop |
| Groundnuts |
Oilseed crop |
Important Cities of Burkina Faso
| City |
Importance |
| Ouagadougou |
Capital and largest city |
| Bobo-Dioulasso |
Major commercial city |
| Koudougou |
Educational center |
| Ouahigouya |
Important northern city |
Wildlife and National Parks
| National Park / Wildlife |
Important Fact |
| Arly National Park |
Known for elephants and lions |
| W National Park |
Shared with Niger and Benin |
| Hippopotamus |
Found in river regions |
| African Elephant |
Important wildlife species |
Important One-Liner GK Facts About Burkina Faso
| Question |
Answer |
| Capital of Burkina Faso |
Ouagadougou |
| Continent of Burkina Faso |
Africa |
| Official language of Burkina Faso |
French |
| Main cash crop of Burkina Faso |
Cotton |
| Major mineral resource |
Gold |
| Currency used in Burkina Faso |
West African CFA Franc |
| Largest city in Burkina Faso |
Ouagadougou |
| Burkina Faso is located in |
West Africa |
| Climate of northern Burkina Faso |
Semi-Arid Climate |
| Burkina Faso became independent in |
1960 |