where are the virunga mountains located where are the virunga mountains located

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 Virunga Mountains in Volcanoes Park. Rwanda is located in East Africa, to the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at the co-ordinates 200S 300E . 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. The best way to establish the state of affairs and what activities are on offer is to chat to the Africa Geographic travel team, who are in constant communication with Virungas park authorities and regularly send intrepid travelers to the area when it is safe to do so. Nyiragongo has erupted over thirty times since the end of the 19th century. With a checklist of 706 different species, there are more birds in Virunga than in the entire United States of America. The crowned crane stands at over 3 feet (1 meter) tall, with predominantly grey plumage, white and black wings, a bright red gular pouch, and a crown of golden feathers. Recent eruptions occurred in 2006, 2010 and May 2021. [45], The climate in the Albertine Rift is influenced by the movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and the El NioSouthern Oscillation. Nyiragongos summit rim is largely devoid of vegetation and is sometimes dusted with snow. 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). While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The mountain range is said to be a part of the Albertine Rift located in the Great Rift Valley. 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. Virunga is the continents most biologically diverse protected area and a national park embarking on an ambitious development programme known as the Virunga Alliance. Naturally, the park authorities are aware of this, and they take the safety of their guests extremely seriously. Oil exploration threatens the Park, sparking deep concerns from the international community. Because of the high silica content of its lava, Nyiragongos lava flows are extremely fluid. Between the early 1930s and 1961, several expeditions to Albert National Park were carried out by Belgian scientists, the second headed by Gaston-Franois de Witte. The 2008 partnership between the Congolese National Parks Authority (ICCN) and the Virunga Foundation marked a turning point in the parks history. Hippo numbers increase to over 2000 for the first time in 20 years. And last, but not least, the heart-stopping, utterly gorgeous and mysterious Shelleys Crimsonwing, which has never been photographed other than when netted during biodiversity surveys. Mount Nyiragongo in Virunga National Park is one . We rely on Global Rescue to assist our clients. Regional conflict spills over and an estimated 5.6 million Congolese die from the fighting. Updates? They are located between Lake Edward and Lake Kivu. Tullow Oil Plc, TotalEnergies, ENI and China National Offshore Oil Corporation Ltd (CNOOC) were interested in acquiring drilling permissions. It is also a vital elephant habitat, as evidenced by the unexpected migration of, nearly 600 elephants from neighbouring Queen Elizabeth. In 1926, Derscheid headed the first Belgian mission to map Albert National Park, which encompassed an area of 500km2 (190sqmi) around the extinct volcanoes Mount Karisimbi and Mount Mikeno. Several armed rebel groups operate in the park, including Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda and National Congress for the Defence of the People (FDLR). The Virungas form a barrier between the Nile Basin to the north and east and the Congo Basin to the west and south. Shoebills can be found in the swamps and marshes of Virungas Central Sector near Lake Edward, the Ishasha River, and the Rwindi River. Omissions? On any given day, its shores abound with hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and chimpanzees. The southern sector borders Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park. 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. [33], In 2005, the European Commission (EC) recommended a public-private partnership between the country's government and the British non-governmental organisation African Conservation Fund. The park also encompasses savannas, peat bogs, marshes, lava plains, eastern steppe vegetation, and various types of forests, including tropical rainforest and bamboo. The range runs east-west, perpendicular to the rift valley in which lie Lakes Kivu and Edward. [7], There have been several deadly attacks in the park by rebel groups, and several park rangers have been killed. editors@africageographic.com Okapis are endangered, and there are probably only a few thousand remaining. [45][54], Virunga National Park together with the adjacent Queen Elizabeth National Park forms a "Lion Conservation Unit". Of these, nine gorilla families have been carefully habituated over the last thirty years. The park is periodically closed when they feel that the situation on the ground is such that security cannot be guaranteed. Even the air is redolent with the scent of rich soil, and intrepid visitors find themselves besieged by butterflies and ebrious with delight at the natural life on show. Dch trong bi cnh "VN QUC GIA CONGO" trong ting vit-ting anh. Baumas love for his primate family endeared him to the audiences of the Oscar-nominated film, Virunga. Still, military and rebel forces remain in eastern Congo and continue fighting as well as poaching and cutting down trees. The 2008 partnership between the Congolese National Parks Authority (ICCN) and the Virunga Foundation marked a turning point in the parks history. The number of bird species in Virunga exceeds the total number in the U.S. and is more than three times the number in the U.K. Virungas recorded number of reptile species makes it the richest of the protected areas in Africa. Both state security services and such groups also resort to armed robberies and kidnapping for income. Here dedicated keepers have raised the young survivors of anthropogenic cruelty (poaching and snaring), as well as rehabilitating eastern lowland gorillas. Much of the parks central region is occupied by Lake Edward. To the northeast the Ruwenzori Range soars to more than 16,000 feet (4,880 metres). 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. The latter organisation is responsible for park management since 2010; about 80% of management costs are subsidised by the EC. The largest herd of elephants over 500 - since the 1980's are observed in the Ishasha corridor of Virunga. Nyiragongo has erupted over thirty times since the end of the 19. century. 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. These ranges consist of eight major volcanoes in Uganda, Congo with five of them located in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). While the apes may be the stars, the supporting cast of around 19 smaller primate species is deserving of a special mention. [12] Local and global groups, such as Greenpeace, are warning about the social and ecological impact of devastating the forest for oil production. Every family comes with its dynamics, characters and stories, and the rangers have kept track of it all you can, read more about their histories and present breakdown here. 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. Virunga is the only site on earth to have three types of great apes the mountain gorilla, eastern lowland gorilla, and eastern chimpanzee. Park protection efforts were militarised in the following years to deter armed rebel groups and poachers from operating inside the park. The Grauers gorillas consist of a handful of individuals isolated to the inaccessible Mount Tshiabirimu region of the park. It is also a vital elephant habitat, as evidenced by the unexpected migration of nearly 600 elephants from neighbouring Queen Elizabeth at the end of 2020. The rapid population surge causes environmental damage, and Virungas Rangers struggle to protect the forests. Many lesser cones flank the major volcanoes. The orphanage is named for a silverback killed in a devastating poaching incident in 2007 that claimed the lives of seven members of the Rugendo family. 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. There are an estimated 30,000 individuals left in the wild. [48], The montane forest between 1,800 and 2,800m (5,900 and 9,200ft) in the southern sector is dominated by Ficalhoa laurifolia and Podocarpus milanjianus with up to 25m (82ft) high trees. The world population of mountain gorillas is currently estimated to be at around 1000 individuals. [31], Since the early 1990s, the protected area was impacted by political turmoil in the African Great Lakes region. 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. (UK) +44 (23) 9387-7464 The most recent eruption occurred in 2021 and had catastrophic consequences for the human residents of the city of Goma. In the west, Nyamulagira, Nyiragongo, and Mikeno are in Congo; Karisimbiat 14,787 feet the highest of the Virunga volcanoesand Visoke are centrally placed on the Congo-Rwanda frontier; and farther east Sabinio (Sabinyo), Mgahinga (Gahinga), and Muhavura, also known as the Mufumbiro Mountains, are . 689 men and women standing fearlessly to protect Virunga, Critical training and support for widows and children of fallen Virunga Rangers, The world's only facility caring for mountain gorilla orphans. 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. Learn more about Dodo Bahati, a project supporting anti-poaching efforts in Virunga National Park. Fortunately, stalwart sightseers can rest assured that the volcanos moods are carefully monitored lest it decides to let loose its fury of molten lava. Geography of Rwanda. Corrections? [32] African fish eagles are birds of prey that live in the waterways of sub-Saharan Africa. Key Information. Seven mountain gorillas from the Rugendo family are murdered. Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The mountain range consists of eight major volcanoes. In Virungas southern sector around Bukima, there are currently ten habituated gorilla families and four solitary males which are also habituated, meaning that they are unafraid of human presence. The camps of various armed factions are dismantled in the Central Sector of the Park. 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. To comment on this story: Download our app here - it's a troll-free safe place . Both savanna elephants and forest elephants reside in Virunga National Park, making it one of the few places in the world where both species co-exist. They eat mostly fruit, but also feed on buds, shoots, leaves, flowers, and insects. [55] The area is considered a potential lion (Panthera leo) stronghold, if poaching is curbed and prey species recover. During the 2002 eruption, some of Nyiragongos lava flows were clocked at 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) and reached all the way to Lake Kivu. Click here to learn more about the work of the Virunga Alliance. The volcanos forested lower slopes are home to a variety of animals, including chimpanzees, monkeys, and bushbuck. At a height of 16,761 feet (5,109 meters), the Rwenzori mountains feature the largest glaciers left on the African continent making this area, populated by glaciers-fed rivers, waterfalls and lakes, one of Africas most beautiful alpine landscapes. 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. Of the population, 12,000 reside in South Africa and 18,000 in East Africa. HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF AFRICA GEOGRAPHIC: We're the Africa Geographic editorial team a diverse set of writers, editors, designers and social media natives, all united by our passion for this addictive continent. The past 14 years have been far from plain sailing, and the park has suffered its fair share of losses, particularly of the brave rangers dedicated to protecting the park. Virunga owes its existence, at least in part, to the presence of the endangered (once critically endangered) mountain gorillas. The main crater of Nyiragongo is about three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km) across and contains a liquid lava pool. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Average temperatures in lower altitudes vary from 2328C (7382F), and in higher altitudes from 1624C (6175F), rarely dropping below 14C (57F). (800,000 hectares) an area roughly three times the size of Luxembourg. However, extraordinary doesnt even begin to cover it. 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. In the course of increasing tensions, the park's chief warden, Emmanuel de Mrode, was assailed in April 2014. More than 3,000 faunal and floral species have been recorded, of which more than 300 are endemic to the Albertine Rift including eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei) and golden monkey (Cercopithecus kandti). Mountain gorillas aside, Virungas great ape collection also includes eastern lowland gorillas (Grauers gorillas Gorilla beringei graueri) and chimpanzees. Habituation is a critical component of gorilla conservation, as it allows for detailed research to be undertaken on the species. Learn more about the Okapi Conservation Project, a project working to protect these unique mammals in the DRC, as well as the forests and creatures of Okapi Wildlife Reserve. UNESCO designated the park a World Heritage site in 1979, and it was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1994, because of the growth of permanent settlements within the park and the influx of a great number of refugees fleeing war in neighbouring Rwanda. 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. 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. The Mountain Gorillas of Virunga National Park. However, this is no idle volcano. [15], Virunga National Park's faunal species include 196 mammals, 706 bird species, 109 reptiles and 65 amphibians as of 2012. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Poaching intensifies and continues to impact the Park for several years. [26] Virunga National Park was founded in 1925 as Albert National Park. Like humans, chimps communicate with facial expressions, gestures, and sounds. The slopes of Mount Mikeno play host to a number of Virungas critically endangered mountain gorilla families. 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. In elevation, it ranges from 680 m (2,230 ft) in the Semliki River valley to 5,109 m (16,762 ft) in the Rwenzori Mountains.From north to south it extends approximately 300 km (190 mi), largely along the international borders with Uganda and . Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nyamuragira volcano, situated around 15 miles (25 kilometers) north of Lake Kivu, has been described as one of Africas most active volcanoes. [8][9], There have been plans to drill for oil in the Congo Basin since the 2000s. The Virunga Mountains and their associated lava flows extend across the Western Rift Valley. [36] Since beginning of the armed conflict, armed groups killed 175 park rangers until April 2018. Nyiragongo are rewarded with a view of the worlds largest lava lake as it churns and bubbles. Also known as: Birunga Mountains, Mufumbiro Mountains. Lake Rutenzige is fed by several large rivers, the Rutshuru River being one, and drains to the north through the Semliki River into Lake Albert. Notable species include the prehistoric-looking shoebills, dashing Rwenzori turacos, mind-blowingly cryptic African green broadbills, and bizarre red-collared mountain babblers whose closest relative forages the slopes of Mt Jupe in Cameroon. [50] Non-endemic birds recorded include Wahlberg's eagle, African goshawk, African hobby, harrier hawk, common buzzard, mountain buzzard, hadeda ibis, grey-crowned crane, black-and-white-casqued hornbill, black-billed turaco, African olive pigeon, tambourine dove, blue-spotted wood dove, red-eyed dove, brown-necked parrot, red-chested cuckoo, olive long-tailed cuckoo, barred long-tailed cuckoo, Klaas's cuckoo, Diederik cuckoo, blue-headed coucal, Narina trogon, white-headed wood hoopoe, white-necked raven, white-tailed crested flycatcher, African paradise flycatcher, white-eyed slaty flycatcher, African dusky flycatcher, white-tailed blue flycatcher, mountain oriole, speckled mousebird, cinnamon-chested bee-eater, grey-throated barbet, yellow-billed barbet, western tinkerbird, yellow-rumped tinkerbird, cardinal woodpecker, olive woodpecker, black saw-wing, Angola swallow, Alpine swift, mountain greenbul, yellow-whiskered greenbul, common bulbul, white-starred robin, Archer's ground robin, white-browed robin-chat, African stonechat, rufous thrush, African thrush, olive thrush, grassland pipit, cinnamon bracken warbler, black-faced rufous warbler, mountain yellow warbler, brown woodland warbler, green sandpiper, Chubb's cisticola, banded prinia, chestnut-throated apalis, grey-backed camaroptera, white-browed crombec, black-throated wattle-eye, chinspot batis, mountain illadopsis, grey-chested illadopsis, olive sunbird, bronze sunbird, malachite sunbird, collared sunbird, variable sunbird, yellow white-eye, Mackinnon's shrike, Doherty's bushshrike, Lhder's bushshrike, northern puffback, mountain sooty boubou, tropical boubou, narrow-tailed starling, Sharpe's starling, baglafecht weaver, black bishop, grey-headed nigrita, common waxbill, black-headed waxbill, bronze mannikin, black and white mannikin, pin-tailed whydah, African citril, streaky seedeater and thick-billed seedeater.[57]. Virunga National Park is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and receives an average of 6,500 visitors per year. The southern sector of Congos Virunga National Park includes those portions of the mountains that are within Congo; the southern flanks of the central and eastern mountains comprise Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda; and Gorilla National Park includes the Ugandan slopes of Mgahinga. Mean monthly rainfall in the savanna around Lake Edward is 3040mm (1.21.6in); this is the driest part of the landscape. Of these, nine gorilla families have been carefully habituated over the last thirty years.