Bambouto Massif
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Bambouto Massif or Bamboutos Mountains is a group of volcanoes based on a swell in the Cameroon Volcanic Line, located in the Western High Plateau of Cameroon, merging in the north with the Oku Volcanic Field.[1]
Geology
The large volcanic complex extends in a NE-SW direction for over 50 kilometres (31 mi), with the highest peaks rising to 2,679 metres (8,789 ft) around the rim of a caldera with a diameter of 10 kilometres (6.2 mi). Lava dating gives ages from 23 to 6 million years ago, with a lower basaltic series and an upper series of trachytes, trachyphonolites and phonolites.[2]
Environment
The upper part of the massif above 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) has a cool and cloudy climate with 2,510 millimetres (99 in) of rainfall annually. Soils are acidic, low in phosphates, and relatively infertile.[3] Due to population pressure, farming is carried out on the steep slopes, leading to erosion and further loss of fertility.[4] Cattle are also grazed on the upper slopes where food crop cultivation is uneconomical.
