Page 59 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

36 Africa

Figure 2.1 Africa’s main volcanoes: most of the volcanoes are found along the Great Rift Valley, of which the western
branch is known as the Albertine Rift Valley
Source: Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

long journey across the deserts, bringing the highest of the African continent. The volcanic
waters from the Mountains of the Moon toward Virunga Massif is found in the south, comprising
the Mediterranean Sea. To the south of the Virunga eight volcanoes along the Congo–Rwanda border,
range, Lake Kivu waters flow into Lake Tanganyika among them two still exceptionally active:
through the Rusizi River, and then into the Nyamulagira and Nyiragongo (Diallo, 1975;
majestic Congo River toward the Atlantic Ocean. Tazieff, 1979).
These lands of spectacular beauty and diversity These mountain ranges and the surrounding
consist of three main areas, each one with its scenic lands and lakes, as well as the rich wildlife
specific landscapes, ecosystems and natural habitats. are all part of VNP, one of the most spectacular
At the centre is found the Rutanzige Lake wildlife sanctuaries in the world. This park is also
depression (916m) with the swamps and grasslands a very successful man-biosphere (MAB) reserve
of the Rwindi, the Rutshuru and Ishasha rivers to where conservation of nature coexists with daily
the south, and the forested valley of the Semliki use by the local population that live within its
River to the north. The forested granitic boundaries. Since its early days, the colonial power
Ruwenzori range stands to the north-east of Lake set rules to protect these lands against the poaching
Rutanzige, with its many snow-covered peaks, of the African elephant, then improved them into
including the Peak Margherita (5119m), the third a national park in 1925, the first of its kind on the

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