South Cameroon Plateau
The South Cameroon Plateau or Southern Cameroon Plateau (
The plateau experiences four major seasons, two rainy, and two dry. Rainfall is high, especially along the coast. The average temperature changes little from 25°C. Rivers in the region drain into the Atlantic Ocean and the Congo River basin. South of the Sanaga, those rivers flow steadily year-round, but the Sanaga and rivers north have a complex regime characterised by high- and low-water periods upstream and constant flow downstream. The predominant vegetation is rainforest, especially to the plateau's south. To the north, forests give way to savanna.
Topography
The South Cameroon Plateau lies between 2 and 6° N and 10 and 16° E. It covers about 225,100 km², more than half of Cameroon's total area. The plateau is characterised by sloping terrain and gently rolling hills.[1] The altitude varies from 250 to 800 m and averages 600 or 650 m.[2] The Western High Plateau lies northwest of the plateau and separates it from the interior African plain.[3] The Adamawa Plateau lies to the plateau's north. From an altitude between 800 and 900 m.[4] there, the plateau slowly slopes south and west from the region of Bedzare and Meiganga.
To the southwest, large inselbergs and tall hills separated by deep gullies predominate. The plateau gives way to the Cameroon coastal plain in escarpments.[5] This topography has resulted in the creation of the Lobé Falls near Kribi, where the Lobé River meets the sea in a series of rapids.[4] Some of the plateau's highest points are in this region, such as Mbam Minkom near Yaoundé (1,295 m), and Ntem massif near Ebolowa (1,400 m).[1]
To the southeast, the transition to the Congo Basin takes place on a gently sloping peneplain.[1] The hills of the eastern portion are gentler than those of the west. These hills are known as half-oranges and can easily be seen in the area of Batouri and Bélabo. The lowest point of the plateau is the Sangha River valley in the southeast.[4]
Geology
The plateau's soils are predominantly
Climate
The South Cameroon Plateau experiences an
Rainfall averages 1,500–2,000 mm per year,
The temperature remains fairly steady year round,[13] averaging 25°C.[14] This fluctuates slightly with the seasons. The long, rainy season is the coldest time of year, and the long dry season is the warmest.[11] Humidity is high year round.[15]
Drainage
Numerous rivers run through the South Cameroon Plateau, particularly in the southeast. These bodies of water drain into both the
The Sanaga and rivers north of it follow a complex, or mixed, Sudano-Guinea regime because the territory they drain lies in both
Flora and fauna
Dense vegetation covers the plateau, especially in the south.
Forest gradually gives way to Guinean savanna to the north.[15] This consists of vast grasslands punctuated by trees.[22] The savanna has increased as human activities have cut back the forest through activities such as burning.[23]
The plateau's rainforests house large numbers of animal species. These include birds, monkeys, and snakes.[10] Others are elephants, chimpanzees, and many rodents.[15]
Notes
- ^ a b c d Gwanfogbe et al. 9.
- ^ Gwanfogbe et al. 9 says 600 m; Neba 16 says 650 m.
- ^ Gwanfogbe et al. 7.
- ^ a b c d Neba 16.
- ^ Gwanfogbe et al. 9; Neba 16.
- ^ Gwanfogbe et al. 12.
- ^ Neba 23.
- ^ a b Gwanfogbe et al. 19; Neba 37.
- ^ Neba 37–8.
- ^ a b Gwanfogbe et al. 19.
- ^ a b c d e Gwanfogbe et al. 16.
- ^ a b Gwanfogbe et al. 17.
- ^ a b Gwanfogbe et al. 14.
- ^ Neba 29.
- ^ a b c Neba 33.
- ^ Gwanfogbe et al. 23.
- ^ Gwanfogbe et al. 25.
- ^ Gwanfogbe et al. 25–6.
- ^ a b Neba 31.
- ^ Gwanfogbe et al. 18.
- ^ Gwanfogbe et al. 18; Neba 33.
- ^ Neba 34.
- ^ Neba 33–4.
References
- Gwanfogbe, Mathew, Ambrose Meligui, Jean Moukam, and Jeanette Nguoghia (1983). Geography of Cameroon. Hong Kong: Macmillan Education. ISBN 0-333-36690-5
- Neba, Aaron (1999). Modern Geography of the Republic of Cameroon, 3rd ed. Bamenda: Neba Publishers.