Lake Burera

{{Infobox body of water

| name = Lake Burera

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| other_name = Bulera

| image = Lac Burera.jpg

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| location = Rwanda

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| coordinates = {{coord|-1.45|29.78|type:waterbody_dim:20000_region:RW|display=inline,title}}

| type = lake

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| inflow = Rugezi

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| outflow = Musasa, Ntaruka

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| area = {{convert|55|km2|sqmi|-1|abbr=on}}

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| elevation = {{convert|1860|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}

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| pushpin_map = Rwanda

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| pushpin_map_alt = Location of the lake in Rwanda.

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Lake Burera or Bulera is a lake of northwestern Rwanda, at the border with Uganda. With an area of {{convert|55|km2|sqmi|-1|abbr=on}}, it is the second largest lake entirely in Rwanda after Lake Ihema ({{convert|100|km2|sqmi|-1|abbr=on}}). Considering all other lakes in the country (including lakes shared with other countries), it would be the 5th largest after Lake Kivu {{convert|2700|km2|sqmi|-1|abbr=on}} between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lake Rweru between Rwanda and Burundi at {{convert|133|km2|sqmi|-1|abbr=on}} of which only {{convert|47|km2|sqmi|-1|abbr=on}} are in Rwanda, Lake Ihema and Lake Cohoha {{convert|74|km2|sqmi|-1|abbr=on}} also shared with Burundi of which only {{convert|19|km2|sqmi|-1|abbr=on}} are in Rwanda. The lake is located in a densely populated North of the country in Burera District which got its name from this lake. The closet major city is the city of Musanze {{convert|25|km|abbr=on}} West of the lake.

Lake Burera borders Uganda's wetlands on the southern slopes of Mount Muhavura at {{convert|1860|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} of altitude.{{cite book|last1=Hughes|first1=Ralph H.|last2=Hughes|first2=Jane S.|last3=Bernacsek|first3=G. M.|title=Iucn Directory of African Wetlands|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VLjafeXa3gMC&pg=PA204|accessdate=24 April 2013|year=1992|publisher=IUCN|isbn=978-2-88032-949-5|page=204}}

It lies to the North East of its twin Lake Ruhondo in which it empties via a stream called Ntaruka. Burera is almost twice as large as Lake Ruhondo and despite only being 600 meters apart, the two lakes are separated by a dramatic drop in altitude of {{convert|100|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}.

Ntaruka is a {{convert|600|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} long stream connecting the two lakes and drops of about 100 meters in . Due to this steep drop, a hydroelectric power plant has been constructed on this stream and produces 11.5 MW.{{cite web |title=Power Plant |url=https://www.reg.rw/what-we-do/generation/power-plant/?tx_powermail_pi1%5Baction%5D=create&tx_powermail_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=Form&cHash=2a8bace115ead5607620f166a9ae3b35 |website=Rwanda Energy Group |publisher=Rwanda Energy Group |accessdate=16 July 2020 |ref=2}}

References

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Category:Lakes of Rwanda

Category:Ramsar sites in Rwanda

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