| FishBase | Complete | Literature | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Families | Species | Families | |||
| Marine | Yes | |||||
| Freshwater | 2 | 2 | Yes | Vatova, A., 1975 | ||
| Total | 2 | 2 | No | |||
| Conservation | The following information is to be sought: - Status of knowledge of the freshwater fauna; - Existence of conservation plans; - Information on major aquatic habitats or sites within the country; - Current major threats to species; - Future potential threats to species; - Contact(s) for further information. |
| Geography and Climate |
Burkina Faso is a landlocked country, consisting mainly of flat savanna which lies within the Sahelian zone. In the east, low hills demarcate the White Volta and Niger River watersheds.
The climate is generally hot and arid, with very limited rainfall in the north. The south is somewhat more moist and has one main rainy season extending from May to October. Ref. Vanden Bossche, J.-P. and G.M. Bernacsek, 1990 |
| Hydrography |
Lakes: There are eight small natural lakes, with a combined surface area of 30-50 sq. km. The most important are Lakes Bam and Oursi, both of which shrink considerably during the dry season, the latter becoming entirely dry nearly every year.
Rivers, floodplains and swamps: Burkina Faso is well watered with rivers, forming at it does the watershed between the Volta and the Niger systems. The Volta is the most important, with four major tributaries: the Black Volta flows for 650 km within the country and has extensive floodplain/marshes (750 sq. km. flooded); the White Volta, flows for some 255 km in Burkina Faso, and the Red Volta, for some 350 km. The other river, the Pendjari, forms the frontier with Benin for about 200 km. Within the Niger Basin the Sirba River drains the central hills toward the north.
Reservoirs: Over 800 dams have been built in Burkina Faso but presently only 320 are in actual use. About 80, with a combined surface area of 130 sq. km. (max) and 80 sq. km. (mean), are permanent and exploited by fishermen. Ref. Vanden Bossche, J.-P. and G.M. Bernacsek, 1990 |