Bakossi Mountains

Bakossi Mountains
Bakossi Mountains is located in Cameroon
Bakossi Mountains
Bakossi Mountains
Location in western Cameroon
Highest point
PeakMount Kupe
Elevation2,064 m (6,772 ft)
Geography
LocationCameroon
RegionsLittoral and Southwest
Range coordinates4°48′05″N 9°42′29″E / 4.80139°N 9.70806°E / 4.80139; 9.70806
Parent rangeCameroon line

The Bakossi Mountains are a mountain range that forms part of the Cameroon line of active and extinct volcanoes in western Cameroon, covering about 230,000 square kilometres (89,000 sq mi).[1] The mountains lie in the regions of Littoral and the Southwest.[2] The highest peak in this range is Mount Kupe at 2,064 metres (6,772 ft). They contain a large area of cloud forest, and have considerable ecological interest. The mountains are home to the Bakossi people.[1]

The climate is tropical, with rainfall throughout the year. The drier season lasts from November to March, with cold nights and hot days. The rainy season starts in April and peaks between late August and the end of October. The soil is fertile, supporting coffee and cocoa as cash crops.[2]

The mountains hold the Bakossi Forest Reserve, a 5,517 square kilometres (2,130 sq mi) reserve created in 1956. In 2000, the main section of the reserve was designated a protection forest. All logging was banned and Kupe became a "strict nature reserve". The local Bakossi people participated in delineating the boundaries.[3] The Forest Reserve in turn contains the Bakossi National Park, created by a decree in early 2008. The park covers 29,320 hectares (72,500 acres), and was justified on the basis of preserving plant diversification.[4]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Kew was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference BACDA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ 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. p. 87. ISBN 9956-615-48-X.
  4. ^ "A National Park – The Bakossi National Park in Cameroon" (PDF). Kew Gardens. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-11-18. Retrieved 2011-08-25.