Volcanoes National Park

Altitude: 2400–4507 m

Physical Features: The park includes part of the Virunga Volcanic mountain range. There is a high annual rainfall of 1975 mm at 3030 m, with a marked decrease to the west. Mean annual temperature is 9.6°C.

Flora: Vegetation varies considerably due to the large altitudinal range within the park. There is some lower montane forest (now mainly lost to agriculture). Between 2400 and 2500 m, there is Neoboutonia forest. From 2500 to 3200 m Arundinaria alpina (bamboo) forest occurs, covering about 30% of the park area. From 2600 to 3600 m, mainly on the more humid slopes in the south and west, is Hagenia-Hypericum forest, which covers about 30% of the park. This is one of the largest forests in Africa with Hagenia abyssinica. The vegetation from 3500 to 4200 m is characterised by Lobelia wollastonii, L. lanurensis, and Senecio erici-rosenii and covers about 25% of the park. From 4300 to 4500 m grassland occurs. Secondary thicket, meadows, marshes, swamps and small lakes also occur, but their total area is relatively small.

Fauna: The park is best known for the Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei). Other mammals include: black-fronted duiker (Cephalophus niger), buffalo (Syncerus caffer), Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) and bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus). There are 178 recorded bird species, with at least 13 species and 16 subspecies endemic to the Virunga and Ruwenzori Mountains.

References: IUCN-WCMC (1985). Retrieved from http://www.unep-wcmc.org/protected_areas/data/sample/0360p.htm.

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