Visoke
| Visoke | ||
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| height | 3711 m | |
| location | Rwanda , East Africa | |
| Mountains | Virunga volcanoes | |
| Coordinates | 1 ° 27 '29 " S , 29 ° 29' 7" E | |
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| Type | Stratovolcano | |
| Last eruption | 1957 | |
The Visoke (also: Bisoke or Bisoko ) is a volcano in Rwanda on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo . It belongs to the eight Virunga volcanoes and is located about 35 km northeast of the Congolese city of Goma .
Geology and geography
Like all the peaks of the Virunga range, Visoke was formed as a result of a rift in the African Plate (see Great Rift Valley ). The mountain is located in the Rwandan Volcano National Park as well as in the neighboring Congolese Virunga National Park , has a height of 3711 meters and has the largest crater lake in the chain. Its summit is often shrouded in fog, its steep flanks are covered with dense mountain rainforest and alpine meadows.
tourism
The operation of agriculture and forestry in the national parks is prohibited and is a punishable offense. The slopes of the Virunga volcanoes are the natural habitat of the last of the mountain gorillas that are endangered . Between the Visoke and the Karisimbi was the Karisoke Research Center founded in 1967 by Dian Fossey , from which she conducted her research.
The area is a popular destination for mountaineers and tourists interested in mountain gorillas. The summit can be reached within a day from the Rwandan side. The Rwandan tourism authority offers two-day excursions, the starting point is usually the nearby town of Ruhengeri . The ascent is steep and particularly recommended during the dry season.
Tourism came to a standstill during the Rwandan civil war (1990–1993) and the subsequent genocide (1994) (see Genocide in Rwanda ). There were also unrest in Burundi and the DR Congo. The ongoing fighting and the migration of refugees resulted in lasting ecological damage in the region, including the habitat of the gorillas. Particular mention should be made of deforestation and poaching, which continue to this day.
Although the conflicts are not yet completely over and the park rangers repeatedly fall victim to armed militias, the situation has stabilized somewhat in recent years and tourists have returned to the area.
Web links
- Visoke in the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution (English)
- Image: Visoke
- Image: Visokes crater lake
See also
References and comments
- ↑ Peakware World Mountain Encyclopedia - Mount Bisoke
- ↑ - ( Memento of the original from September 22, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ Rwanda: From War Zone to Vacation Destination
