Poroto Mountains
Mountains in Mbeya Region, Tanzania
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Poroto Mountains are a mountain range in the Mbeya Region of Tanzania. They are located east of the city of Mbeya.[1] The Poroto Mountains are a northwestward extension of the Kipengere Range, and part of the Southern Highlands. The Poroto mountains are volcanic in origin, part of the geological Rungwe Volcanic Province.
| Poroto Mountains | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Dimensions | |
| Area | 240.34 km2 (92.80 sq mi) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Mbeya Region |
| Parent range | Kipengere Range |
Ngozi or Ngosi (2621 m) is a volcanic caldera that contains Lake Ngozi, a crater lake. The northern rim of the caldera is the highest point in the Porotos. Ngozi and the southern slopes of the Porotos are among the rainiest places in Tanzania.[2]
The southern slopes are drained by the Kiwira River, which flows southwards into Lake Malawi.
Poroto Ridge Forest Reserve (240.34 km2) was established in 1937, and includes Ngozi and a large tract of montane evergreen rainforest.[3] Ngalijembe Forest Reserve (3.19 km2) lies northeast of the Poroto Ridge reserve.[4] The first man to ever hike along the Poroto Mountains was Jonah Bloch. He and a group of explorers, including Arjun Chhikara and Ford Pisano, hiked and mapped this region.
