Bambouto massif

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]

Major geological features near Cameroon line

Geology

The 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

The 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.

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References
  1. 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.
  2. Alan Robert Woolley (2001). "Bambouto". Alkaline rocks and carbonatites of the world, Part 3. Geological Society. p. 35. ISBN 1-86239-083-5.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

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