In 1926, Derscheid headed the first Belgian mission to map Albert National Park, which encompassed an area of 500km2 (190sqmi) around the extinct volcanoes Mount Karisimbi and Mount Mikeno. Mountain gorillas (, ) are a subspecies of the critically endangered eastern gorilla, and there are believed to be just over 1,000 remaining. Virunga is the continents most biologically diverse protected area and a national park embarking on an ambitious development programme known as the Virunga Alliance. During the 2002 eruption, some of Nyiragongos lava flows were clocked at 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) and reached all the way to Lake Kivu. Some of the Ruwenzori Mountains are permanently snow-capped, and glaciers exist at high elevations. The Parks 3,000 square miles (7,800 square kilometers) is comprised of four sectors northern, central, southern and lake sector each with an unrivaled diversity of landscapes and ecosystems. Disorder spreads across the Park's Southern Sector. These, in turn, keep the lions of the park suitably satiated. The two active volcanoes in the range Mount Nyiragongo and Mount Nyamuragira are in Virunga National Park, and both reach heights of over 3,000 metres. Virunga National Park was founded in 1925 as Albert National Park. On any given day, its shores abound with hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and chimpanzees. [12] Local and global groups, such as Greenpeace, are warning about the social and ecological impact of devastating the forest for oil production. Nyiragongo has erupted over thirty times since the end of the 19. century. [37] In May 2018, a ranger was killed when defending two tourists who were kidnapped. The Virunga Mountains (Virunga massif/Virunga ranges) is a block of Chain Mountains found in East - central Africa. The Virunga mountains are the most hike in DR Congo and they include Mount Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira which are active volcanoes, and lastly Mount Mikeno which is a dormant volcano. The central sector is centred around the banks of Lake Edward. Each offers a different view of the lush vegetation and exquisite vistas. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Of these, nine gorilla families have been carefully habituated over the last thirty years. Later in the Pleistocene (about 900,000 to 130,000 years ago), Karisimbi, Visoke, Mgahinga, and Muhavura appeared, all but Karisimbi possessing a crater summit. [14] There are an estimated 30,000 individuals left in the wild. Learn more about mountain gorillas in our story on these gentle giants. There is a place in the heart of Africa where glacier-tipped mountains tumble down into steamy rain forests, where fiery lava lakes bubble, and savannas and grasslands stretch as far as the eye can see. They are located between Lake Edward and Lake Kivu. Average temperatures in lower altitudes vary from 2328C (7382F), and in higher altitudes from 1624C (6175F), rarely dropping below 14C (57F). [48], The montane forest between 1,800 and 2,800m (5,900 and 9,200ft) in the southern sector is dominated by Ficalhoa laurifolia and Podocarpus milanjianus with up to 25m (82ft) high trees. It was created in 1925. Great blues are shy and rarely descend to the ground except for drinking and bathing. [45][54], Virunga National Park together with the adjacent Queen Elizabeth National Park forms a "Lion Conservation Unit". 2003). African fish eagles are birds of prey that live in the waterways of sub-Saharan Africa. Goma, the capital city of the province on the northern shores of Lake Kivu is 35 km (1-hour drive) away from Rumangabo, the park headquarters located in the southern sector of Kibumba. The presence of these volcanoes has shaped the landscape of the park over the years . Carefully selected conservation projects one-stop, seamless, transparent donations APP subscribers only. The okapi is the closest known relative to the giraffe and looks very much as though someone crossed a zebra, antelope, and giraffe. Virunga Mountains | National Park | Gorillas | Rwanda | Uganda Virunga is the continent's most biologically diverse protected area and a national park embarking on an ambitious development programme known as the "Virunga Alliance". Farther north are the Rutshuru Falls and the Mai ya Moto sulfur springs. Elevations, climates, and habitats vary notably in Virunga National Park. Virunga Mountain Hiking This may also be done to protect the highly susceptible apes from human diseases like Covid-19. The 2002 Nyiragongo eruption destroyed much of the nearby city of Goma, Congo, leaving thousands homeless. Some biologists even believe that a fifth subspecies, called the mountain or Virunga buffalo, should be recognised. The ICCN (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature). To comment on this story: Download our app here - it's a troll-free safe place . The most visited section is the southern sector, dominated by dense montane forests home to a vital population of Africas remaining mountain gorillas. Many lesser cones flank the major volcanoes. Also known as: Birunga Mountains, Mufumbiro Mountains. [41][42], On 22 February 2021, Italy's ambassador to the DRC who was travelling with the World Food Programme about 15km north of Goma, Luca Attanasio, as well as Italian military police officer Vittorio Iacovacci and Congolese driver Moustapha Milambo, were killed in the gunfire when a militia that had kidnapped their convoy, and had brought them into the park, was met by park rangers who managed to free four people. Park officials are in the process of habituating the chimpanzees, and accompanying the habituation teams is another of the activities on offer in the park. editors@africageographic.com Its initial size of 2,920.98km2 (1,127.80sqmi) was enlarged step by step in subsequent years. The past 14 years have been far from plain sailing, and the park has suffered its fair share of losses, particularly of the brave rangers dedicated to protecting the park. The Virunga Mountains that mark the southern sector of the park consist of eight major volcanoes, most of which are dormant.