The Adamawa Plateau (French: Massif de l'Adamaoua) is a plateau region in west-central Africa stretching from south-eastern Nigeria through north-central Cameroon (Adamawa and North Provinces) to the Central African Republic.[1] The part of the plateau that lies in Nigeria is more popularly known as Gotel Mountains.
Adamawa Plateau | |
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Highest point | |
Elevation | 2,650 m (8,690 ft)[1] |
Coordinates | 9°48′N 14°05′E / 9.800°N 14.083°E |
Geography | |
Countries | Cameroon, Central African Republic and Nigeria |
The Adamawa Plateau is the source of many waterways, including the Benue River. The average elevation is about 3,300 feet (1,000 meters),[2] but elevations can reach as high as 8,700 feet (2,700 meters).[1] It is important for its deposits of bauxite.[1] The vegetation is mostly savanna. The endangered toad Amietophrynus djohongensis is known to exist in the wild only in the Cameroonian part of the Adamawa Plateau.[3][4]
The plateau is sparsely populated, and cattle raising is the main occupation in the area.[2] The province and plateau were named after Fulani Muslim leader Modibo Adama, whose jihads significantly affected the population of the area.[2]