| Nguru Mountains | |
|---|---|
 Morogoro | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,400 m (7,900 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Morogoro Region |
| Parent range | Eastern Arc Mountains |
The Nguru Mountains are a mountain range in Morogoro Region, Tanzania, Africa. They are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains. The mountains are predominantly covered with rainforest, home to 83 species of birds [1] and African violets. Several forest reserves are located in the mountains.
The Nguru Mountains cover an area of 1672.90 km2. [2] The highest elevation is 2400 meters in Nguru South. [3] The range runs roughly northeast-southwest, and is split by the valley of the Mjonga River, a tributary of the Wami River. The range lies in the watershed of the Wami. The plain of the Wami and its tributary the Mkata lies to the southeast and east. The Uluguru Mountains lie to the southeast across the plain. The Ukaguru Mountains lie to the southwest, and the Nguu Mountains lie to the north; both ranges are separated from the Nguru Mountains by low hills. More hilly country separates the Maasai Steppe the northwest.
The Nguru mountains intercept moisture-laden winds from the Indian Ocean, which provide most of the rainfall in the mountains. Rainfall averages 1,800 millimetres or 70 inches annually. [4] Most of the rainfall occurs in the November-to-May wet season, although mist and light rain occur at higher elevations during the dry season. Rainfall is higher on the southern and eastern slopes, and lower in the mountains' rain shadow to the north and west. Temperatures are cooler and rainfall is higher at higher elevations. [5]
The Nguru Mountains, along with the others in the Eastern Arc, are made up of ancient crystalline Precambrian rocks that were lifted up over millions of years along fault lines. The most recent period of uplift started 30 million years ago, but the fault system and uplift process may be far older. Soils derived from these ancient rocks are not as fertile as the younger volcanic soils of mountains to the north and west. [6]
About 30 million years ago, the area was covered by extensive rainforest. During a cooler and drier period some 10 million years ago, the lowland forests were converted to savanna, leaving the mountain ranges as "islands" where the tropical forests continued to flourish. The long-term persistence of a humid climate and the isolation of each mountain range has led to a great deal of endemism, with very diverse flora and fauna. [7] The Nguru and other Eastern Arc mountains have extremely high biodiversity with numerous endemic species (more than 25 percent of the vertebrate species). [8]
Miombo woodland covers the Mkata-Wami plain to the east, and the low hills to the south, west, and north. Forests extend from 300 to 2000 meters elevation. The forests vary in species composition with elevation and the direction of the slope. At lower elevations on the eastern slope, evergreen lowland rainforests dominate, with flora similar to the humid Zanzibar-Inhambane coastal forests further east. At higher elevations, the mountains are home to montane rainforests, with characteristic Afromontane species. [9] Submontane forests occur from 900 to 1400 meters elevation on the eastern slopes, and between 1400 and 1500 meters elevation on the western slopes. Montane rainforests predominate between 1400 and 2000 meters on the eastern slope , with mossy cloud forests at higher elevations. On the western slope are drier montane forests between 1600 and 200 meters. Above 2000 meters, montane heathlands predominate. [10] An analysis of satellite images taken between 1999 and 2003 found 297 km2 of the mountains were still covered in evergreen forest. [11] The Nguru and Usambara Mountains are home to the rare tree, Millettia sacleuxii , which was once feared extinct. [12] Since its rediscovery seedlings are cultivated in some quantities.
The mountains have one nature reserve and two forest reserves, totaling 31,409 ha. [13] The Mkingu Nature Reserve is home to one of Tanzania's largest remaining undisturbed areas of montane forest. [14] Mkingu was formed from the merger of the Nguru South Catchment Forest Reserve (19,793 ha) and Mkindo CFR (7,451 ha). [15] The Kanga South CFR (6,664 ha) is in the northeastern portion of the mountains, divided from the main block by the Mjonga River valley. [16] Magotwe reserve (709 ha) is at a lower elevation on the eastern slope, between the two mountain blocks.
The Eastern Highlands, also known as the Manica Highlands, is a mountain range on the border of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The Eastern Highlands extend north and south for about 300 kilometres (190 mi) through Zimbabwe's Manicaland Province and Mozambique's Manica Province.
The Mahenge Mountains are a mountain range in Ulanga District, Morogoro Region, Tanzania. The town of Mahenge is located in the northeastern mountains. The mountains are southeast of Iringa, in the Eastern miombo woodlands ecoregion.
The Viphya Mountains, also known as the Viphya Plateau or Viphya Highlands, are a mountain range in located in Chikangawa in Malawi's Northern Region.
The Kipengere Range, also known as the Livingstone Mountains, lies entirely in Njombe Region in southwest Tanzania at the northern end of Lake Nyasa. Near Lake Nyasa they are known as the Kinga Mountains. It is a plateau-like ridge of mountains running southeastwards from the basin of the Great Ruaha River in the north to that of the Ruhuhu River in the south, and forms part of the eastern escarpment of the East African Rift. The range is mostly clad in montane grasslands, renowned for their botanical diversity and displays of flowers, with montane evergreen forests mostly in stream valleys.
The Udzungwa Mountains are a mountain range in south-central Tanzania. The mountains are mostly within Iringa Region, south of Tanzania's capital Dodoma. The Udzungwa Mountains are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, and are home to a biodiverse community of flora and fauna with large numbers of endemic species.
The Usambara Mountains of northeastern Tanzania in tropical East Africa, comprise the easternmost ranges of the Eastern Arc Mountains. The ranges of approximately 90 kilometres (56 mi) long and about half that wide, are situated in the Lushoto District of the Tanga Region. They were formed nearly two million years ago by faulting and uplifting, and are composed of Precambrian metamorphic rocks. They are split into two sub-ranges; the West Usambaras being higher than the East Usambaras, which are nearer the coast and receive more rainfall.
Mount Rungwe is a volcanic mountain in Mbeya Region, in Tanzania's Southern Highlands. At an altitude of 2,981 metres (9,780 ft), it is southern Tanzania's second-highest peak. Rungwe's volcano is currently inactive.
The Uluguru mountains are a mountain range in eastern Tanzania, named after the Luguru tribe. The main portion of the Uluguru mountains is a ridge running roughly north-south and rising to 2,630 metres (8,600 ft) altitude at its highest point. On the main Uluguru range, 50 villages touch the forest boundary and over 151,000 people are found within the mountain area, often at increasing densities at higher altitudes up to the forest boundary.
The Wami River is a river located in Pwani Region, Tanzania. The headwaters of the Wami and its tributaries originate in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Morogoro Region. The river then flows northeastward through of Pwani Region to empty into the Indian Ocean west of Zanzibar Island.
The East African montane forests is a montane tropical moist forest ecoregion of eastern Africa. The ecoregion comprises several separate areas above 2000 meters in the mountains of South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
The Eastern Arc forests is a montane tropical moist forest ecoregion of eastern Africa. The ecoregion comprises several separate highland areas above 800 meters in Kenya, and (mostly) Tanzania.
The South Malawi montane forest-grassland mosaic is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion of Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia.
Ntchisi Mountain is a mountain in central Malawi. It is located in Ntchisi District, east of the town of Ntchisi.
The Misuku Hills are a mountain range in Malawi's Northern Region.
The Ufipa Plateau is a highland in southwestern Tanzania. It lies mostly in Rukwa Region, near the border with Zambia. The plateau is named for the Fipa people who inhabit it.
The Umalila Mountains are a mountain range in southern Tanzania, on the border with Malawi. The Umalila Mountains are part of Tanzania's Southern Highlands.
The Rubeho Mountains are a mountain range in central Tanzania. The mountains in Dodoma and Morogoro regions, southeast of Tanzania's capital Dodoma. The Rubeho Mountains are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, and are home to a biodiverse community of flora and fauna with large numbers of endemic species.
The Ukaguru Mountains are a mountain range in central Tanzania. The mountains are in Morogoro region, east of Tanzania's capital Dodoma. The mountains are named for the Kaguru people. The Ukaguru Mountains are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, and are home to a biodiverse community of flora and fauna with large numbers of endemic species.
The Nguu Mountains are a mountain range in Tanga Region of Tanzania. The Nguu Mountains are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains. The mountains are covered in woodland, grassland, and forest.
The Uvidunda Mountains are a mountain range in Tanzania's [[Morogoro Region] Kilosa district, Mikumi division].The Mountains named afterVidunda tribe small tribe dwell on Mountains.Uvidunda Mountains located with more than 6 untouched waterfalls trail.The Uvidunda Mountains Cultural Tourism Enterprise initiated by conservation tourism enterprise Mikumi Eco & Cultural Tourism is the one develop and manage Chizua Waterfalls,Kigaga Waterfalls, Mzombe waterfall,Mululu waterfalls, Ibwedunghu waterfall,Makene Ngoroma Trail and Uvidunda Zipline.People living on Uvidunda Mountains are known as WaVidunda,their language is Chividunda.
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