The Mitumba Mountains stretch along the Western Rift Valley in Eastern Congo (DRC) , west of Lake Tanganyika and Lake Kivu . The two main peaks, Mount Kahuzi (3,308 m) and Mount Biéga (2,790 m) are dormant volcanoes. The northern portion of the range is also known as the Itombwe Mountains or Itombwe Plateau.
10-698: Most of the mountain range is in the Albertine Rift montane forests ecoregion. At lower elevations, the montane forests transition to lowland rain forests at the northern end of the range, to forest–savanna mosaic in the central portion of the range, and miombo woodlands to the south. Gambeya gorungosana and Syzygium guineense are characteristic trees of the primary or mature montane forests. Macaranga kilimandscharica , Neoboutonia macrocalyx , and Xymalos monospora are trees typical of secondary forests, which regrow in areas cleared by wind or human disturbance. Kahuzi-Biéga National Park covers
20-1008: A chain of volcanoes in East Africa , in the area where Rwanda , the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Uganda meet. The mountain range is a branch of the Albertine Rift Mountains , which border the western branch of the East African Rift . They are located between Lake Edward and Lake Kivu . The name "Virunga" is an English version of the Kinyarwanda word ibirunga , which means "volcanoes". The mountain range consists of eight major volcanoes. Most of them are dormant, except Mount Nyiragongo 3,462 metres (11,358 ft) and Mount Nyamuragira 3,063 metres (10,049 ft), both in
30-409: A portion of the mountains, including mounts Kahuzi and Biéga. This Democratic Republic of the Congo location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Albertine Rift montane forests The Albertine Rift montane forests ( French : Forêts montagnardes du Rift Albertin ) is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in east-central Africa. The ecoregion covers
40-695: The East African Rift . The mountain ranges include the Lendu Plateau of Uganda (the forest is almost completely cleared from here), and the Virunga Mountains and Rwenzori Mountains of Rwanda , Uganda , and the Democratic Republic of the Congo . At the highest elevations of the Rwenzori and Virunga ranges (above 3000 meters), the forests transition to the Afroalpine Rwenzori–Virunga montane moorlands ecoregion , including
50-565: The Global 200 conservation list. The rare mountain gorilla ( Gorilla beringei beringei ) survives only in this ecoregion as do the L'Hoest's monkey , and a subspecies of the Hamlyn's monkey − as well as many endemic species of butterflies and birds including: Grauer's warblers , Chapin's flycatchers , and the Rwenzori turaco . The Lendu Plateau clawed frog is endemic to that landform in
60-652: The DRC. Recent eruptions occurred in 2006, 2010 and May 2021. Mount Karisimbi is the highest volcano at 4,507 metres (14,787 ft). The oldest mountain is Mount Sabyinyo , which rises 3,634 metres (11,923 ft) above sea level. The Virunga Mountains are home of the endangered mountain gorilla , listed on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species due to habitat loss , poaching , disease, and war (Butynski et al. 2003). The Karisoke Research Center , founded by Dian Fossey to observe gorillas in their native habitat,
70-512: The ecoregion. Much of the forest has already been cleared for agriculture or for logging, especially in densely populated Rwanda and Burundi, but large areas of forest still remains in forest reserves and at higher altitudes in the Virunga , Itombwe , and Rwenzori Ranges. The forest clearance is ongoing and is a major threat to the ecology of the region, and to the forests as an important carbon store. The violent political and rebel history of
80-578: The high peaks of Mount Stanley and Mount Karisimbi . The highest peak in Burundi, Mount Heha however is in this ecoregion. Developed and settled areas in the region include: The mountain rainforests of the ecoregion have a cooler climate than the Congolian lowland forests or the savanna of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, and therefore are home to a rich variety of Afromontane flora and especially fauna. The Albertine Rift montane forests are included on
90-404: The mountains of the northern Albertine Rift , and is home to distinct Afromontane forests with high biodiversity. The high montane forests cover the western portions of Rwanda and Burundi , the eastern edge of the Democratic Republic of the Congo , and portions of western Uganda and Tanzania . This area occupies the parallel Albertine Rift Mountains that enclose the western branch of
100-408: The region in recent times has also caused damage to the ecological balance, for example almost eliminating the population of African bush elephants from Virunga National Park in the DRC. 11.93% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Protected areas include: Visitor activities in the ecoregion's habitats include: Virunga Mountains The Virunga Mountains (also known as Mufumbiro ) are
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