where are the virunga mountains located

The rapid population surge causes environmental damage, and Virungas Rangers struggle to protect the forests. The UK oil company Soco announces that it will not renew its claim to an oil concession in Virunga National Park. Virunga Mountains - Virunga Volcanoes, Virunga Mountain Ranges Tullow Oil Plc, TotalEnergies, ENI and China National Offshore Oil Corporation Ltd (CNOOC) were interested in acquiring drilling permissions. However, wet seasons are a good option for those with a pair of solid, waterproof boots looking to take advantage of the low-season discounts. In elevation, it ranges from 680m (2,230ft) in the Semliki River valley to 5,109m (16,762ft) in the Rwenzori Mountains. The mountain range consists of eight major volcanoes. Established 1991, BEST SAFARI PRICES In addition to buffalo, the plains support several ungulates, including topi, Ugandan kob, waterbuck, warthog, and red river and giant forest hog. It spans across the three countries; via the North West Rwanda covering Volcanoes National Park, south western Uganda encompassing Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and eastern Congo forming part of Virunga National Park. The central sector is centred around the banks of Lake Edward. Though valiant efforts were made to protect the park, the end of the 20th century saw much of the parks wildlife massacred almost to the point of extinction. [55] The area is considered a potential lion (Panthera leo) stronghold, if poaching is curbed and prey species recover. Park officials are in the process of habituating the chimpanzees, and accompanying the habituation teams is another of the activities on offer in the park. Poachers murder four mountain gorillas, making this the first time in 10 years that a mountain gorilla had been poached within Park borders. Together with Queen Elizabeth National Park, Virunga is considered by the IUCN to be a Lion Conservation Unit. Over 90% of refugees settle within walking distance of Park borders. [43], Virunga National Park is located in the Congo Nile watershed area. Two active volcanoes are located in the park, Mount Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira. Sabyinyo volcano, located on the border of Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo in the Virunga Mountains, is simply incredible! [15], Virunga National Park's faunal species include 196 mammals, 706 bird species, 109 reptiles and 65 amphibians as of 2012. The okapi is the closest known relative to the giraffe and looks very much as though someone crossed a zebra, antelope, and giraffe. The first maps resulted from the major expedition of Adolf Friedrich, duke of Mecklenburg, which was undertaken in 190708. According to a 2010 report by the United Nations Security Council, 80% of the charcoal consumed by the city of Goma is sourced from the park, representing an annual value of US$2830 million. Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site internationally recognized for its exceptional wildlife and habitats. Chimpanzees are an endangered species and one of the four species of great apes. This savannah-like section offers the best chance to spot the more traditional safari animals, including elephant, lion, and buffalo. There are an estimated 30,000 individuals left in the wild. Mountain gorillas (, ) are a subspecies of the critically endangered eastern gorilla, and there are believed to be just over 1,000 remaining. The Virunga Mountains: 8 Related Volcanoes - Uganda Safaris To comment on this story: Download our app here - it's a troll-free safe place . As is inevitable, this tableau of human suffering has spilt over into the conservation of the countrys natural resources, and Virunga has found itself in the middle of countless conflicts. [26] Lake Edward, one of the most fertile lakes in Africa, is home to numerous bird, fish, and mammal species. The Mountain Gorillas of Virunga National Park. To find lodges, search for our ready-made packages or get in touch with our travel team, scroll down to after this story. When Albert National Park was established in April 1925 as the Congo's first national park, it was conceived as a science-oriented nature reserve with the aim of studying and preserving wildlife and so-called "primitive" hunter-gatherer African Pygmies. Tourism facilities were developed and improved, and a trickle of intrepid visitors gradually turned into a steady stream of people looking to experience one of Africas most incredible destinations. The mountains are part of the Albertine rift located at the Great Rift Valley one of the world's largest natural features. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The park is periodically closed when they feel that the situation on the ground is such that security cannot be guaranteed. [26] Park personnel are given paramilitary training and high-quality weaponry, and operate together with the military and state security services. To the northeast the Ruwenzori Range soars to more than 16,000 feet (4,880 metres). [2], In 2011, the British company Soco International was granted a concession for extracting crude oil in the surroundings of and in large parts of the national park. However, taking one taxing step at a time has paid off. The most visited section is the southern sector, dominated by dense montane forests home to a vital population of Africas remaining mountain gorillas. Massive pods of hippo lurk around the shallows of Lake Edward and wallow in the various rivers, and bongo antelope have been spotted in the parks northern reaches. As might be expected in a park that encompasses such a large variety of habitats, the birding can be described as extraordinary. These, in turn, keep the lions of the park suitably satiated. Both the highest and lowest recorded rainfalls in the republic occur within the parks boundaries: while annual rainfall at Lake Edward is some 20 inches (500 mm), the west slope of Mount Ruwenzori, less than 47 miles (75 km) away, receives more than 118 inches (3,000 mm). The 2002 Nyiragongo eruption destroyed much of the nearby city of Goma, Congo, leaving thousands homeless. Remains of dicots such as African caper (Capparis tomentosa), Maerua species, wild cucurbits, and nightshades were found in dung balls of African elephants (Loxodonta) that play a significant role for seed dispersal in the grasslands. Dch trong bi cnh "VN QUC GIA CONGO" trong ting vit-ting anh. It was the first national park to be established on the continent of Africa, primarily to protect the mountain gorillas living in the forests of the Virunga Massif. Virunga Mountain Hiking The northern sector receives a monthly mean precipitation of up to 220mm (8.7in), and the southern sector of up to 160mm (6.3in). The Virunga Mountains in Volcanoes Park. [45] The Parks 3,000 square miles (7,800 square kilometers) is comprised of four sectors northern, central, southern and lake sector each with an unrivaled diversity of landscapes and ecosystems. Hiking the Sabyinyo volcano takes approximately 7 to 9 hours. (800,000 hectares) an area roughly three times the size of Luxembourg. The central sector is based around Lake Edward, the Ishasha river valley and the Rwindi plains. Corrections? It erupts on average every two years. Mass killings of nearly 400 hippos are orchestrated by local militia who are suspected of eating and selling the meat and removing teeth for ivory. Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mount Nyiragongo in Virunga National Park is one . Not more than 20,000 years ago Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira emerged at the western end of the chain, both with extensive craters. These mountains are part of the Great Rift Valley. While many of the gorillas sensibly prefer to reside on the slopes of the dormant Mikeno volcano, the southern section is also the location of the two active volcanoes in the park Mount Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira. Virunga National Park is home to around a third of those gorillas, which reside in the dense forests on the lush slopes of the Virunga volcanoes. Virunga mountains, Volcanoe ranges - African Birding Trips It conserves a diversity of habitats that surpasses any other park on the continent and is tucked along the eastern boundary of the Democratic Republic of Congo, protecting the eastward extremity of the Congo Basin. Though there are innumerable reasons to want to visit Virunga National Park, the potential insecurity in the region is of concern to many prospective visitors. Virunga is a biodiversity spectacle but is also a testament to the courage of those that have fought and often given their lives in its defence.

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