where are the virunga mountains located

This may also be done to protect the highly susceptible apes from human diseases like Covid-19. The park also encompasses savannas, peat bogs, marshes, lava plains, eastern steppe vegetation, and various types of forests, including tropical rainforest and bamboo. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Each offers a different view of the lush vegetation and exquisite vistas. The Karisoke Research Center, founded by Dian Fossey to observe gorillas in their native habitat, is located between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke. 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. The Virunga Mountains, located in the northwest part of Rwanda, contain the country's highest peak, Karisimbi, which reaches nearly 15,000 feet. (UK) +44 (23) 9387-7464 Mean monthly rainfall in the savanna around Lake Edward is 3040mm (1.21.6in); this is the driest part of the landscape. is the branch of the Congolese government tasked with the protection and conservation of protected areas in the DRC. The Foundation holds the management contract for the Park, which requires it to restore and manage the national park with ICCN. Poachers murder four mountain gorillas, making this the first time in 10 years that a mountain gorilla had been poached within Park borders. [34], These tactics, criticised as "militarization of conservation", has been blamed for further violence and dispossession faced by local indigenous people. Flora/Vegatation in Virunga national park; Virunga's strategic location at the frontier between various biogeographic zones offers it an upper hand to protect both tropical rainforest and eastern steppe species and its range of altitudes adds to the habitat variety.The diversity in flora includes: bamboo and Hagenia forest on the mountains; equatorial forest along the Semiliki; wooded . The mountain range is a branch of the Albertine Rift Mountains, which border the western branch of the East African Rift. The mountain gorillas have increased from fewer than 70 to over 300 in ten years and hippos from 300 to over 2,000, while elephant and lion sightings are now a fairly regular occurrence. In 1969, following the countrys independence from Belgium in 1960, the Park was renamed Virunga National Park. Virunga owes its existence, at least in part, to the presence of the endangered (, . Okapis are shy and solitary animals that resemble zebras but are more closely related to the giraffe and are endemic to the DRC. 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. The, However, this is no idle volcano. [18] In 1969, the two parks were merged under the name Virunga National Park, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Alongside this essential conservation work, the Park is committed to supporting local communities. Communities, such as the Mbuti, which previously relied on the lands included in the park for food and shelter have been forced out, or risk being arrested or killed by armed park rangers. Following the Rwandan genocide, thousands of refugees fled to the Kivu region, and the presence of military increased. The connection between man and gorilla can be further explored at the Senkwekwe Centre, the only mountain gorilla orphanage in the world. January 17, Nyiragongo volcano erupts spreading lava through the city of Goma. The great volcanoes of this range, clothed in cloud forests, include the dormant Mikeno, Karisimbi, Visoke, and Sabinio (Sabinyo), as well as the active Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira. Farther north are the Rutshuru Falls and the Mai ya Moto sulfur springs. Focussing on three key areas: hydropower, sustainable agriculture and fisheries, and tourism, Virunga National Park is working to economically transform the region creating jobs and reducing poverty rates. Despite the global call for protected areas to cover 30% of the earth by 2030, there are still many parks and reserves where the future hangs very much in the balance. Mount Mikeno is an extinct volcano located in the Virunga Mountains. Fortunately, stalwart sightseers can rest assured that the volcanos moods are carefully monitored lest it decides to let loose its fury of molten lava. Hippopotamuses, rare mountain gorillas, okapis, antelope, warthogs, and pelicans all live in Virunga as well. As anyone who has ever spent time with gorillas will tell you, it is an experience that defies words and borders on sacred. [45] The park is periodically closed when they feel that the situation on the ground is such that security cannot be guaranteed. Lake Edward is a vital resource for local fishermen. [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. Virunga is the only site on earth to have three types of great apes the mountain gorilla, eastern lowland gorilla, and eastern chimpanzee. Situated in the center of the Albertine Rift, between Uganda and Rwanda, Virungas 7,800 square kilometers (3,000 square miles) stretches from the Virunga Massif in the south, to the Rwenzori Mountains in the north. With a checklist of 706 different species, there are more birds in Virunga than in the entire United States of America. Furthermore, a substantial number of these are Albertine Rift and Congolese endemics. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Networking & debating APP subscribers only, TRUSTED CONSERVATION PROJECTS This savannah-like section offers the best chance to spot the more traditional safari animals, including elephant, lion, and buffalo. [45], The climate in the Albertine Rift is influenced by the movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and the El NioSouthern Oscillation. Around one third of the world population of critically endangered mountain gorillas live in the lush volcanic forests of Virunga National Park. The mountain range consists of eight major volcanoes. [46] The great volcanoes of this range, clothed in cloud forests, include the dormant Mikeno, Karisimbi, Visoke, and Sabinio (Sabinyo), as well as the active Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira. Still, military and rebel forces remain in eastern Congo and continue fighting as well as poaching and cutting down trees. The Virunga Mountain in Rwanda, Congo and Uganda The Virunga volcanoes /mountains also locally known as Mufumbiro are located in three countries Uganda, Rwanda and DRCongo. Want to go on a safari to Virunga? 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. This articles lists and explains more about the . In direct response to the massacres, the Senkwekwe Centre is established to care for the orphans of the massacre. Tree heath (Erica arborea), heather and mosses cover humid slopes up to 3,700m (12,100ft) elevation. The 2002 Nyiragongo eruption destroyed much of the nearby city of Goma, Congo, leaving thousands homeless. Corrections? Throw in nocturnal displays of volcanic ambivalence, and the Virunga experience is far beyond the average escape from the humdrum of city life it is an exhilarating embrace of everything that makes Africa truly wild. A conflict between rebel and army forces results in the untimely death of the silverback of the Rugendo family. Situated in a region which has been deeply impacted by the effects of war and armed conflict for over 20 years, Virunga is currently protected by a dedicated team of 689 Rangers. [56], Of the Albertine Rift's endemic birds, Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori batis, Archer's ground robin, red-throated alethe, Kivu ground thrush, collared apalis, mountain masked apalis, dusky crimson-wing, Shelley's crimsonwing, red-faced woodland warbler, stripe-breasted tit, blue-headed sunbird, regal sunbird, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, handsome spurfowl and strange weaver were recorded in Virunga National Park's southern sector during surveys in 2004. Satellite images showed hotspots at Nyamuragira volcano in early 2017, indicating ongoing eruptions. Together with Queen Elizabeth National Park, Virunga is considered by the IUCN to be a Lion Conservation Unit. Anti-poaching patrols inside the park were obstructed, and park personnel and wildlife were killed. However, this is no idle volcano. Though Virunga is accessible year-round (if open to visitors), the best time to visit is during the drier months, from June until September or December until February. Sabyinyo volcano, located on the border of Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo in the Virunga Mountains, is simply incredible! It is headed by Andr Bauma, a man who has become almost as famous as his gorilla charges. In contrast to the relatively sedate gorilla trekking, chimp habituation more often than not involves an adrenaline-filled race through the forest to keep up with our arboreal relatives. Most visitors access the park via Rwanda and pass through the border at Goma. The Virunga Mountains cover three countries of Africa that includes the south Western part of Uganda which covers the Mgahinga National park, the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo covering the Virunga National park and the North Western part of Rwanda which covers the Volcanoes National park. Virunga is an English derived word from its origin word "ibirunga" (comes . [47] Elevations, climates, and habitats vary notably in Virunga National Park. Though the full history of the park (and the DRC) is beyond the scope of this celebration of Virunga, no coverage would be complete without mention of both the challenges and efforts involved in keeping it safe. The Viringa Mountains are composed of up to 8 Volcanic summits including two active volcanoes of Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira located in DRC in Virunga National Park. Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Oil exploration by an English company only added to threats facing the already beleaguered park. Its initial size of 2,920.98km2 (1,127.80sqmi) was enlarged step by step in subsequent years. These, in turn, keep the lions of the park suitably satiated. Individual volcanoes bear Rwandan descriptive names, such as Sabinio (Sabinyo; Old Man with Large Teeth) and Muhavura (Landmark, or Guide). [5], Primates present in the national park include mountain gorilla (G. b. beringei), common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), golden monkey, red-tailed monkey (Cercopithecus ascanius), Dent's mona monkey (C. denti), blue monkey (C. mitis), Hamlyn's monkey (C. hamlyni), De Brazza's monkey (C. neglectus), Central African red colobus (Procolobus foai), mantled guereza (Colobus guereza), olive baboon (Papio anubis) and grey-cheeked mangabey (Lophocebus albigena). The inhabitants inside the national park, whether native or refugees, rely on farming, hunting, fishing, logging and producing charcoal for their livelihoods, all prohibited activities. The lake lies over 3000 feet (916 meters) above sea level and covers a surface area of 224,083 hectares, making it the 15th largest lake in Africa. The world population of mountain gorillas is currently estimated to be at around 1000 individuals. In the course of increasing tensions, the park's chief warden, Emmanuel de Mrode, was assailed in April 2014. ceo@africageographic.com, Travel & conservation company, since 1991,

, The oldest national park in Africa, Virunga National Park covers nearly 8,000km. The parks southern tip rests on the northern shore of Lake Kivu, a short distance from the town of Goma to the east. The UK oil company Soco announces that it will not renew its claim to an oil concession in Virunga National Park. In addition to buffalo, the plains support several ungulates, including topi, Ugandan kob, waterbuck, warthog, and red river and giant forest hog. Nyiragongo has erupted over thirty times since the end of the 19th century. [2] Latter controlled the Mikeno sector of Virunga National Park between December 2006 and January 2009. Virunga National Park (covering an area of 790,000 ha) comprises an outstanding diversity of habitats, ranging from swamps and steppes to the snowfields of Rwenzori at an altitude of over 5,000 m, and from lava plains to the savannahs on the slopes of volcanoes. The mountain range is said to be a part of the Albertine Rift located in the Great Rift Valley. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 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. The ICCN (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature). Carefully selected conservation projects one-stop, seamless, transparent donations APP subscribers only. The endangered eastern lowland gorilla, also known as the Grauers gorilla, is a sub-species of the eastern gorilla that resides in the lowland tropical rainforests of eastern Congo. The Virunga chained mountains, also known as the Virunga Massif, offer unique experiences to tourists in Africa. Mount Nyiragongo in Virunga National Park is one . Nyiragongo are rewarded with a view of the worlds largest lava lake as it churns and bubbles. [50] [5][21][49][50], African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) and African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) inhabit the national park's central sector. The 2008 partnership between the Congolese National Parks Authority (ICCN) and the Virunga Foundation marked a turning point in the parks history. Omissions? It is . (RSA) +27 (87) 551-8105 Andre Bauma is the manager of the Senkwekwe Center and heads up the team of dedicated carers responsible for looking after the Center's orphaned mountain gorillas. However, extraordinary doesnt even begin to cover it. Mount Nyiragongo is 3,470 meters, Mount Nyamuragira is 3,058 meters and Mount Mikeno is 4,437 meters. The Rwenzori Mountains National Park covers nearly 100,000 ha in western Uganda and comprises the main part of the Rwenzori mountain chain, which includes Africa's third highest peak (Mount Margherita: 5,109 m). Only one mountain of the 8 is an active volcano that is Mount Nyiragongo found in DRCongo. 400,000 people are evacuated and 147 are killed in the eruption. It reopened in February 2019. national park, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The mountain gorilla is taken off the IUCN critically endangered species list, marking a victory for Congolese, Rwandan and Ugandan National Parks. Nyamuragira volcano, situated around 15 miles (25 kilometers) north of Lake Kivu, has been described as one of Africas most active volcanoes. The Virunga Foundation is a UK-based charity founded in 2005, created to support the protection of the flora and fauna of the Park, and to generate benefits for the local communities that live around the national park. The southern sector stretches to the shores of Lake Kivu and encompasses Nyamulagira, Nyiragongo and Mikeno volcanoes with montane forests on their slopes. Two major African rivers, the Nile and the. The vegetation above 2,600m (8,500ft) is subalpine with foremost African redwood (Hagenia abyssinica) growing up to 3,000m (9,800ft). Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). However, taking one taxing step at a time has paid off. Like humans, chimps communicate with facial expressions, gestures, and sounds. Virungas southern sector is best known for its montane tropical forests, active volcanoes, and the mountain gorillas that live on the flanks of the dormant Mikeno volcano. Established 1991, BEST SAFARI PRICES [49] All of the topi (Damaliscus lunatus jimela) cluster to the south of Lake Edward in the Ishasha Flats region, and regularly cross the border into Uganda. 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. Disorder spreads across the Park's Southern Sector. Others include Karisimbi - the highest at 4,507m, Bisoke and Sabyinyo in Rwanda, Gahinga and Muhabura in Uganda and Mikemo in DRC. Naturally, the park authorities are aware of this, and they take the safety of their guests extremely seriously. The range runs east-west, perpendicular to the rift valley in which lie Lakes Kivu and Edward. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. [8] They were subsequently released unharmed. Every morning, rangers set out at the crack of dawn to track down and monitor their charges, and by the time guests have stirred and downed their first coffee, many families have already been located. [61][62] Ndakasi, a gorilla from the park, was featured in a few television series and movies, including the Netflix documentary.[63]. The name Virunga comes from the Kinyarwanda word ibirunga, which means volcanoes. [41][42], On 22 February 2021, Italy's ambassador to the DRC who was travelling with the World Food Programme about 15km north of Goma, Luca Attanasio, as well as Italian military police officer Vittorio Iacovacci and Congolese driver Moustapha Milambo, were killed in the gunfire when a militia that had kidnapped their convoy, and had brought them into the park, was met by park rangers who managed to free four people. Visitors who brave the climb to the summit of Mt. Over 90% of refugees settle within walking distance of Park borders. [37] In May 2018, a ranger was killed when defending two tourists who were kidnapped. The Virunga Mountains also popularly known as the Virunga Volcanoes range are a chain of eight volcanoes created by violent eruptions in the Albertine Rift region. This partnership initiated a comprehensive reform program and planted the seed for what would become the Virunga Alliance an innovative development programme to address the root causes of poverty and conflict, with the aim of eradicating illegal and destructive resource extraction in the region. The Virunga Mountains (also known as Mufumbiro [1]) are a chain of volcanoes in East Africa, along the northern border of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Uganda. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Virunga-National-Park, UNESCO World Heritage Centre - Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa). The Virunga chained Mountains cover three African countries, including the southwestern of Uganda, which covers Mgahinga Gorilla National Park; the Democratic Republic of Congo in the east, covering the Virunga national park, and Rwanda covering the Volcanoes National park. It is an extraordinary park steeped in a history of tragedy and heroism: primordial and viscerally wild. The Centre is the only one of its kind in the world. Geography of Rwanda. Ten years later in 1979, Virunga was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Virungas most prominent mammals include forest and savanna elephants, hippos, okapis, lions and mountain gorillas. This may also be done to protect the highly susceptible apes from human diseases like Covid-19. 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. The oldest national park in Africa, Virunga National Park covers nearly 8,000km2 (800,000 hectares) an area roughly three times the size of Luxembourg. Rwanda is located in East Africa, to the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at the co-ordinates 200S 300E . Virunga Mountains, Virunga also spelled Birunga, also called Mufumbiro Mountains, volcanic range north of Lake Kivu in east-central Africa, extending about 50 miles (80 km) along the borders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Of these, nine gorilla families have been carefully habituated over the last thirty years. In 2007, the mass killing of the Rugendo family of gorillas catapulted the parks plight onto the world stage, and the global attention spurned increased funding and conservation measures. They are located between Lake Edward and Lake Kivu. Fuelled by subsistence and profit-driven poaching, rebel groups launch attacks on patrol posts in the Northern Sector of the Park. However, another creature is arguably Virungas (and Africas) most peculiar offering. The First and Second Congo Wars further destabilised the region. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. They are solitary creatures who remain isolated except when threatened or breeding. Nyamuragira is a high-potassium basaltic shield volcano with an elevation of 10,033 feet (3,058 meters). The volcanos forested lower slopes are home to a variety of animals, including chimpanzees, monkeys, and bushbuck. In addition to buffalo, the plains support several ungulates, including topi, Ugandan kob, waterbuck, warthog, and red river and giant forest hog. Click here to learn more about the work of the Virunga Alliance. They have significantly shaped the national park's diverse habitats and wildlife. The Virunga Mountains are all volcanic mountains but most of them are dormant. There is a place in the heart of Africa where glacier-tipped mountains tumble down into steamy rain forests, where fiery lava lakes bubble, and savannas and grasslands stretch as far as the eye can see. Lions are carnivores that consume a wide variety of prey, from wildebeest, impala, zebra, giraffe, buffalo and wild hogs to the occasional rhino, hippo, or elephant when food is scarce. Its northern sector encompasses part of the Semliki River basin, as well as savanna and montane forest of the Albertine Rift. Virunga National Park is one such park, still tumbling in the currents of war, political instability, poverty, and disease. Virunga National Park is a national park in the Albertine Rift Valley in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.It was created in 1925. The word Virunga is got from a local word "Ibirunga* the Kinyarwanda word for "mountains". [54] At 14,557 feet (4,437 meters) Mount Mikeno is the second highest peak in the Virunga mountains and the 13th highest mountain of Africa. Located in East Africa, the Virunga Mountains are a series of volcanoes that extends along northern part of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Uganda. [40] Again in January 2021, armed men killed at least six rangers and wounded several others in an ambush in the national park. The okapi is the closest known relative to the giraffe and looks very much as though someone crossed a zebra, antelope, and giraffe. [14][15][16][17] Indigenous people lost their traditional land rights in this process, and were evicted from the protected area. This helps to increase understanding of mountain gorilla behaviour, as well as allowing veterinary teams to intervene if gorillas are injured or showing signs of ill health. The region's glaciers, waterfalls and lakes make it one of Africa's most beautiful alpine areas. Oil exploration by an English company only added to threats facing the already beleaguered park. 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. Harnessed bushbuck (T. scriptus) and giant forest hog (Hylochoerus meinertzhageni) are present in the southern sector. The name Virunga (Volcanoes), probably of Swahili derivation, has prevailed over the earlier Mufumbiro (That Which Cooks), which is still used in Uganda. [5], In 1979, the National Park was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its rich diversity of habitats, exceptional biodiversity and endemism, and its protection of rare mountain gorilla habitat. One of Africas most spectacular protected areas. Park protection efforts were militarised in the following years to deter armed rebel groups and poachers from operating inside the park.

Ottawa Hunt Club Membership Fees, Claims Documentation Aafes Email, Farm Houses For Rent In Dixon, Il, Articles W