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
editThe large volcanic complex extends in a NE-SW direction for over 50 km, with the highest peaks rising to 2,679 m around the rim of a caldera with diameter 10 km. 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
editThe upper part of the massif above 2,000 m has a cool and cloudy climate with 2,510 mm 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 foodcrop cultivation is uneconomical.
References
edit- ^ Kevin Burke (2001). "Origin of the Cameroon Line of Volcano-Capped Swells" (PDF). The Journal of Geology. 109: 349–362. Bibcode:2001JG....109..349B. doi:10.1086/319977. Retrieved 2011-02-01.349-362&rft.date=2001&rft_id=info:doi/10.1086/319977&rft_id=info:bibcode/2001JG....109..349B&rft.au=Kevin Burke&rft_id=http://epsc.wustl.edu/~ggeuler/reading/07-spring/cameroon/week3/burke_2001-jg-origin_of_the_cameroon_line_of_volcano-capped_swells.pdf&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Bambouto massif" class="Z3988">
- ^ Alan Robert Woolley (2001). "Bambouto". Alkaline rocks and carbonatites of the world, Part 3. Geological Society. p. 35. ISBN 1-86239-083-5.
- ^ Siéwé Jean Mermoz; Djoufac Woumfo Emmanuel; Bitom Dieudonné; Figueras François; Djomgoué Paul; Njopwouo Daniel; Azinwi Primus Tamfuh (2008). "Andosols of the Bambouto Mountains (West Cameroon): Characteristics, Superficial Properties - Study of the Phosphate Ions Adsorption" (PDF). The Open Inorganic Chemistry Journal. 2: 106–115. Retrieved 2011-02-02.106-115&rft.date=2008&rft.au=Siéwé Jean Mermoz&rft.au=Djoufac Woumfo Emmanuel&rft.au=Bitom Dieudonné&rft.au=Figueras François&rft.au=Djomgoué Paul&rft.au=Njopwouo Daniel&rft.au=Azinwi Primus Tamfuh&rft_id=http://www.bentham.org/open/toicj/articles/V002/106TOICJ.pdf&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Bambouto massif" class="Z3988">[permanent dead link]
- ^ Cornelius Mbifung Lambi; Emmanuel Ndenecho Neba (2009). Ecology and Natural Resource Development in the Western Highlands of Cameroon: Issues in Natural Resource Management. African Books Collective. pp. 62–63. ISBN 9956-615-48-X.62-63&rft.pub=African Books Collective&rft.date=2009&rft.isbn=9956-615-48-X&rft.au=Cornelius Mbifung Lambi&rft.au=Emmanuel Ndenecho Neba&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=n5SIgMEVYAgC&pg=PA62&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Bambouto massif" class="Z3988">