Mambilla-Plateau
Vorlage:Geobox The Mambilla Plateau is a plateau found in Taraba State of Nigeria. This highland is the northern continuation of the Bamenda Highlands of Cameroon into the Nigerian eastern border.With an average elevation of about Vorlage:Convert above sea level,it is the highest plateau in Nigeria.[1] Some of its villages are situated on hills that must be at least Vorlage:Convert high above sea level.[2] Some mountains on the plateau are above Vorlage:Convert high, like the Chappal Waddi mountain which has an average height of about Vorlage:Convert above sea level. It is the highest mountain in Nigeria[3] and the highest mountain in West Africa if the Republic of Cameroons higher mountains like the Mount Cameroon are excluded as mountains in west Africa even though they are sometimes included among mountains found in the west African region.
The plateau developed on basement complex rocks. It measures about Vorlage:Convert along its curved length; it is Vorlage:Convert wide and is bounded by an escarpment,that is about Vorlage:Convert high in some places.[4] The plateau covers an area of over Vorlage:Convert.[5] Chappal Waddi mountain is found at the northeastern flank of the Plateau.
Location
The Mambilla Plateau is found in the southeastern part of Taraba state of Nigeria under Sardauna local government area of the state.[6] While Taraba state mostly covers a lowland region, Sardauna local Government Area in Taraba state provides a different scenario to this view. The entire local government area of Sardauna sits on top of the Mambilla Plateau at an elevation of over Vorlage:Convert above sea level providing a contrast to the neighbouring Local Government Areas of Taraba State which are mostly lowlands. The plateau shares its South and Eastern borders with the Republic of Cameroon with the rest of the plateau in Taraba State.
Climate
The Mambilla Plateau has a comparatively cold, mountain climate. Daytime temperatures hardly exceed Vorlage:Convert making it the coldest plateau region in Nigeria.[7] Strong winds prevail throughout the day, and the rainy season lasts from mid-March until the end of December.[2] Because of its altitude, the plateau experiences an almost temperate weather conditions throughout the year.
Rainfall
The rainy season on the Mambilla Plateau is associated with heavy and regular rains. This has been attributed to the relative steepness of the southwestern escarpment of the plateau which comes in direct contact with the southwestern monsoonal winds from the South Atlantic Ocean in southern Nigeria during the rainy season from March to mid-December. The winds are forced to rise on coming in contact with the South Western escarpment of the plateau which rises from a height of Vorlage:Convert in the nearby plains to over Vorlage:Convert at the top of the plateau resulting in heavy rainfalls experienced on the plateau during the rainy season.
Rainfall is excess on the plateau and over Vorlage:Convert is thought to fall in the contigious chappal waddi mountain area,[8] part of the Mambilla Plateau mountain chain.
Topography
The Mambilla Plateau is hilly with deep gorges and travellers are constantly passing from one panoramic view to the other. The plateau is entirely covered by soil with occasional occurrence of granite.[9]
Drainage
The plateau is dissected by many streams and rivers; notable among them are the Donga River and Taraba River, with both having their sources on the plateau.
Vegetation
The Mambilla Plateau is virtually treeless except for cultivated plantation, the predominant vegetation on the plateau is mainly low grasses. Despite heavy rainfall, tropical trees cannot survive on the plateau because of its cold climate. The few trees found here are eucalyptus trees imported from temperate lands. The presence of lush green grasses on the plateau has attracted a large number of cattle herders resulting in overgrazing. This has created problems between the cattle herders, who are referred to as the fulani nomads, and the indigenous Mambila people.
Towns
Towns on the plateau are small with populations ranging from 100 to 5000 people except for Gembu. The latter contains the headquarters of Sardauna Local Government Area to which the Mambilla Plateau belongs. Other important towns on the plateau are Dorofi, Nguroje, Mayo Ndaga, Wakili Buba, Maisamari, Hainare, Mbamnga, Mayo Sollare, Kilatin, Labbare, Mayo Tolore, Tamnya, and Gembu.
Attractions
- The highland is home to Nigeria and West Africa's only highland tea plantations.
- Nigeria's largest game reserves, the Gashaka/Gumpti Game Reserve is found in the Chappal Waddi mountain area just north of the Mambilla Plateau.[10]
- A hydroelectric power dam is planned to be constructed on the plateau.[11]
See also
References
- ↑ Mambilla Plateau. Wikimapia.org. Retrieved on 2011-04-09.
- ↑ a b Chapter IX. The Mambila, David Zeitlyn, University of Kent
- ↑ Physical Map of Nigeria. Freeworldmaps.net. Retrieved on 2011-04-09.
- ↑ MAMBILLA PLATEAU – Nigeria Online Tourism Magazine. Goodlife.com.ng. Retrieved on 2011-04-09.
- ↑ Fidelis Mac Leva Nigeria: Myths and Wonders of Mambilla Plateau, allafrica.com, 20 May 2007
- ↑ MAMBILLA PLATEAU – Nigeria Online Tourism Magazine. Goodlife.com.ng. Retrieved on 2011-04-09.
- ↑ Rendezvous: Mambilla Plateau: Taraba’s unexploited treasure. Zainabokino.blogspot.com (2010-09-16). Retrieved on 2011-04-09.
- ↑ [1] (Seite nicht mehr abrufbar, festgestellt im April 2011.)
- ↑ Anthropological Notes on the Mambila. Lucy.ukc.ac.uk. Retrieved on 2011-04-09.
- ↑ The Gashaka Primate Project: Gashaka-Gumti National Park. Ucl.ac.uk. Retrieved on 2011-04-09.
- ↑ [2] (Seite nicht mehr abrufbar, festgestellt im April 2011.)