Jos plateau
| Jos plateau | ||
|---|---|---|
 Jos Plateau in central Nigeria |
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| Highest peak | ? ( 1829 m ) | |
| location | Africa :; Nigeria | |
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| Coordinates | 9 ° 34 ' N , 9 ° 5' E | |
| surface | 7,770 km² | |
The Jos plateau , also Josplateau , formerly the belly plateau ( bautʃiplaˈtoː ), is a grassy highland in Nigeria up to 1,829 m high . The state of Plateau is named after him.
geography
The Jos plateau covers an area of 7770 km² and is on average at an altitude of 1280 m. It is the only area in Nigeria that is climatically in the temperate zone . It forms a watershed between the Niger Basin and the Chad Basin . In the north of the plateau lies Maladumba Lake , which is part of a wetland of international importance according to the Ramsar Convention .
Geologically, the Jos plateau is granitic , with some volcanic elevations and significant tin occurrences (see also under economy ). The important rivers Bunga , Kaduna , Gongola and Jama'are , one of the headwaters of the Komadugu Yobe , have their source in this area .
economy
The Jos plateau is of particular economic importance due to the significant deposits of tin in the region. In agriculture, mainly peanuts and cotton are produced and cattle are raised . The northern city of Jos is the economic center and largest agglomeration of the plateau .
history
In the 19th century, the Jos Plateau was an important retreat for the mainly Christian population of northern Nigeria, who fled from the Fulbe and their leader Usman dan Fodio . Usman began a jihad to Islamize northern Nigeria in 1804 and established the Sokoto Caliphate .
In 1928 miners discovered fine terracotta figures of the Nok culture near the village of Nok .
After colonization by the British , the region became the most popular travel destination for foreigners living in Nigeria because of its mild climate. Since the turn of the millennium, there have been violent clashes between Christians and Muslims on the Jos plateau , which has led to a slump in tourism (see Sharia conflict in Nigeria ).