The Virunga Mountains are a chain of volcanoes A volcano is an opening, or rupture, in a planet's surface or crust, which allows hot magma, ash and gases to escape from below the surface. The word volcano is derived from the name of Vulcano island off Sicily which in turn, was named after Vulcan, the Roman god of fire in East Africa East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:, along the northern border of Rwanda The Republic of Rwanda , known as the Land of a Thousand Hills, is a country located in the Great Lakes region of east-central Africa, bordered by Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo Coordinates: 2°52′48″S 23°39′22″E / 2.88°S 23.656°E The Democratic Republic of the Congo , known until 1997 as Zaire, is a country located in Central Africa, with a small length of Atlantic coastline. It is the third largest country (by area) in Africa. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is, with the population more than 68 (DRC) and Uganda Coordinates: 1°17′N 32°23′E / 1.28°N 32.39°E The Republic of Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by Tanzania. The southern part of the country includes a substantial. The mountain range A mountain range is a chain of mountains bordered by highlands or separated from other mountains by passes or valleys. Individual mountains within the same mountain range do not necessarily have the same geology, though they often do; they may be a mix of different orogeny, for example volcanoes, uplifted mountains or fold mountains and may, is a branch of the Albertine Rift, a part of the Great Rift Valley The Great Rift Valley is a name given in the late 19th century by British explorer John Walter Gregory to the continuous geographic trench, approximately 6,000 kilometres in length, that runs from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in East Africa. The name continues in some usages, although it is today considered geologically. They are located between Lake Edward Lake Edward or Edward Nyanza is the smallest of the African Great Lakes. It is located in the western Great Rift Valley, on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, with its northern shore a few kilometers south of the Equator. The lake was named by the explorer Henry Morton Stanley in honour of Prince Albert Edward, The and Lake Kivu Lake Kivu is one of the African Great Lakes. It lies on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, and is in the Albertine Rift, a part of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Kivu empties into the Ruzizi River, which flows southwards into Lake Tanganyika.
The mountain range consists of eight major volcanoes. Most of them are dormant, except Mount Nyiragongo Mount Nyiragongo is a stratovolcano in the Virunga Mountains associated with the Great Rift Valley. It is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, about 20 km north of the town of Goma and Lake Kivu and just west of the border with Rwanda. The main crater is about two km wide and usually contains a lava lake. The crater presently has two (3462 m) and Mount Nyamuragira Mount Nyamuragira is an active volcano in the Virunga Mountains of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, situated about 25 km north of Lake Kivu (3063 m) in the Congo. Recent eruptions occurred in 2006, and in January, 2010. Mount Karisimbi Mount Karisimbi is an inactive volcano in the Virunga Mountains on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. At 4,507 metres , Karisimbi is the highest of the eight major mountains of the mountain range, which is a part of the East African Rift Valley. Karisimbi is flanked by Mikeno to the north, Bisoke to the east and (4507 m) is the highest volcano. The oldest mountain is Mount Sabyinyo Mount Sabyinyo is an extinct volcano in eastern Africa, in the Virunga Mountains. The summit of the mountain, at 3,645 metres (11,959 ft), marks the intersection of the borders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. It also lies within the adjoining national parks established by these countries: Virunga National Park in the (3634 m).
The Virunga Mountains are home of the critically endangered mountain gorilla The Mountain Gorilla is one of the two subspecies of the Eastern Gorilla. There are two populations. One is found in the Virunga volcanic mountains of Central Africa, within three national parks: Mgahinga, in south-west Uganda; Volcanoes, in north-west Rwanda; and Virunga in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The other is found in, listed on the IUCN Red List The IUCN Red List is set upon precise criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of thousands of species and subspecies. These criteria are relevant to all species and all regions of the world. The aim is to convey the urgency of conservation issues to the public and policy makers, as well as help the international community to try to reduce species of Endangered Species due to habitat A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular animal or plant species. It is the natural environment in which an organism lives, or the physical environment that surrounds (influences and is utilized by) a species population.[citation needed] loss, poaching Poaching is the illegal hunting, fishing, trapping, or eating of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching, disease A disease or medical condition is an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions, associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune diseases, and war War is a behavior pattern exhibited by many primate species including man, and also found in many ant species. The primary feature of this behavior pattern is a certain state of organized violent conflict that is engaged in between two or more separate social entities. Such a conflict is quite often an attempt to resolve a dispute over various (Butynski et al. 2003). The Karisoke Research Center, founded by Dian Fossey Dian Fossey was an American zoologist who undertook an extensive study of gorilla groups over a period of 18 years. She observed them daily for years in the mountain forests of Rwanda, initially encouraged to work there by famous paleontologist Louis Leakey. She was murdered in 1985, by unknown assailants; the case technically remains open to observe gorillas Gorillas are the largest of the living primates. They are ground-dwelling and predominantly herbivorous. They inhabit the forests of central Africa. Gorillas are divided into two species and either four or five subspecies. The DNA of gorillas is 98%–99% identical to that of a human, and they are the next closest living relatives to humans after in their native habitat, is located between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke Mount Bisoke is an extinct volcano in the Virunga Mountains of the Great Rift Valley. It straddles the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but the summit is located in Rwanda. It is located approximately 35 km northeast of the town of Goma and adjacent Lake Kivu.
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National Parks
- Virunga National Park The Virunga National Park lies from the Virunga Mountains, to the Rwenzori Mountains, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Rwenzori Mountains National Park in Uganda. Covering 7,800 square kilometres (3,000 sq mi) it was established in 1925 as Africa's first national park. It was classified, Democratic Republic of the Congo Coordinates: 2°52′48″S 23°39′22″E / 2.88°S 23.656°E The Democratic Republic of the Congo , known until 1997 as Zaire, is a country located in Central Africa, with a small length of Atlantic coastline. It is the third largest country (by area) in Africa. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is, with the population more than 68
- Volcanoes National Park Volcanoes National Park lies in northwestern Rwanda and borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. The national park is known as a haven for the mountain gorilla. It is home to five of the eight volcanoes of the Virunga Mountains (Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo), Rwanda The Republic of Rwanda , known as the Land of a Thousand Hills, is a country located in the Great Lakes region of east-central Africa, bordered by Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania
- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda Coordinates: 1°17′N 32°23′E / 1.28°N 32.39°E The Republic of Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by Tanzania. The southern part of the country includes a substantial
List of mountains in the Virunga
- Mount Karisimbi Mount Karisimbi is an inactive volcano in the Virunga Mountains on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. At 4,507 metres , Karisimbi is the highest of the eight major mountains of the mountain range, which is a part of the East African Rift Valley. Karisimbi is flanked by Mikeno to the north, Bisoke to the east and, Rwanda/DRC (4,507 m)
- Mount Mikeno, DRC (4,437 m)
- Mount Muhabura Mount Muhabura, also known as Mount Muhavura, is an extinct volcano in the Virunga Mountains on the border between Rwanda and Uganda. At 4,127 m, Muhabura is the third highest of the eight major mountains of the mountain range, which is a part of the East African Rift Valley. Muhabura lies partly in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda and partly in, Rwanda/Uganda (4,127 m)
- Mount Bisoke Mount Bisoke is an extinct volcano in the Virunga Mountains of the Great Rift Valley. It straddles the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but the summit is located in Rwanda. It is located approximately 35 km northeast of the town of Goma and adjacent Lake Kivu, Rwanda/DRC (3,711 m)
- Mount Sabyinyo Mount Sabyinyo is an extinct volcano in eastern Africa, in the Virunga Mountains. The summit of the mountain, at 3,645 metres (11,959 ft), marks the intersection of the borders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. It also lies within the adjoining national parks established by these countries: Virunga National Park in the, Rwanda/Uganda (3,674 m)
- Mount Gahinga Mount Gahinga, is a dormant/extinct volcano in the Virunga Mountains on the border between Rwanda and Uganda. Gahinga lies between Muhahabura and Sabyinyo, but is the smallest of these three. The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is named after the mountain, and tourists can climb Gahinga from that side, Rwanda/Uganda (3,474 m)
- Mount Nyiragongo Mount Nyiragongo is a stratovolcano in the Virunga Mountains associated with the Great Rift Valley. It is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, about 20 km north of the town of Goma and Lake Kivu and just west of the border with Rwanda. The main crater is about two km wide and usually contains a lava lake. The crater presently has two, DRC (3,470 m)
- Mount Nyamuragira Mount Nyamuragira is an active volcano in the Virunga Mountains of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, situated about 25 km north of Lake Kivu, DRC (3,058 m)
In culture
- Michael Crichton John Michael Crichton or Michael Crichton pronounced /ˈkraɪtən/ was an American author, producer, director, screenwriter, and medical school graduate, best known for his work in the science fiction, medical fiction, and thriller genres. His books have sold over 150 million copies worldwide, and many have been adapted into films. In 1994,'s novel Congo Congo is a 1980 science fiction novel by Michael Crichton. The novel centers on an expedition searching for diamonds and inspecting the mysterious deaths of the previous expedition in the dense rain forest of Congo is set mostly in the Virunga region.
- Samba Mapangala Samba Mapangala born in Matadi in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. He spent early 70's with various bands in Kinshasa, before moving to Uganda in 1975 where he and some other Congolese musicians formed the Les Kinois band. They moved to Nairobi in 1977. He formed a new band, the Orchestra Virunga, in 1981. The band is named after, a Congolese-Kenyan musician, had a band called Orchestra Virunga Samba Mapangala born in Matadi in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. He spent early 70's with various bands in Kinshasa, before moving to Uganda in 1975 where he and some other Congolese musicians formed the Les Kinois band. They moved to Nairobi in 1977. He formed a new band, the Orchestra Virunga, in 1981. The band is named after.
External links
- The Official Virunga National Park Website
- Kwita Izina - Official Baby Gorilla Naming Ceremony site- Virunga Rwanda
- "Mfumbiro". Encyclopædia Britannica The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition is a 29-volume reference work that marked the beginning of the Encyclopædia Britannica's transition from a British to an American publication. Some of its articles were written by the best-known scholars of the day. This edition of the encyclopedia is now in the public domain, but the outdated nature (11th ed.). 1911.
See also
Coordinates A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system that enables every location on Earth to be specified in three coordinates, using mainly a spherical coordinate system: 1°25′45″S 29°32′54″E / 1.42917°S 29.54833°E
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Categories: Great Rift Valley Categories: Volcanism | Volcanism of Africa | Volcanism of Asia | Volcanism of the Indian Ocean | Landforms of Africa | Landforms of Israel | Rift valleys | Rift volcanism | Landforms of Syria | Landforms of Egypt | Landforms of Lebanon | Landforms of Ethiopia | Landforms of Kenya | Landforms of Saudi Arabia | Landforms of Yemen | Landforms of | Volcanoes of the Great Rift Valley | Virunga Mountains | World Heritage Sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Categories: Conservation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo | World Heritage Sites in Africa | Visitor attractions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo | World Heritage Sites in Uganda Categories: World Heritage Sites in Africa | Visitor attractions in Uganda | Conservation in Uganda |
Dallas Morning News
More than an hour's trek into the rain forest of Rwanda's Virunga Mountains , I see the top of a tree shake. Like a 5-year-old who sees a black boot dangling ...
Gorillas flee as Muhabura forests burn New Vision
Rwanda: Virunga Fires Contained AllAfrica.com
Bush fires forcing rare mountain gorillas to flee to DRC Gaea Times
NTDTV - afrol News - AllAfrica.com
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The Great Rift Valley
Ruben Vicente
Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:34:00 GM
The . Mountain. Gorilla living in the . Virunga Mountains. of Rwanda is one of the most threatened species of our times. No one wants this wonderful ape to disappear from our planet, and the good news is that we all can help to save this ...
