[3][47] January 17, Nyiragongo volcano erupts spreading lava through the city of Goma. The park is periodically closed when they feel that the situation on the ground is such that security cannot be guaranteed. [25], Land laws were reformed in the 1960s after Belgian Congo became independent as the Republic of the Congo, and the land declared property of the state, much to the disadvantage of local people. The 8 Virunga Volcano Mountains/Virunga Massif in Africa (For more on the conservation and social developments by the Virunga Alliance, have a look at their website.). The great volcanoes of this range, clothed in cloud forests, include the dormant Mikeno, Karisimbi, Visoke, and Sabinio (Sabinyo), as well as the active Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira. They are situated in the same region at the borders of the three countries. The Virunga Mountains : 8 Related Volcanoes. Furthermore, a substantial number of these are Albertine Rift and Congolese endemics. The Virunga chained mountains, also known as the Virunga Massif, offer unique experiences to tourists in Africa. The Mountain Gorillas of Virunga National Park. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Tourism facilities were developed and improved, and a trickle of intrepid visitors gradually turned into a steady stream of people looking to experience one of Africas most incredible destinations. [54] In altitude, this sector ranges from 680m (2,230ft) in the Puemba River valley to the highest peak of Mount Stanley at 5,109m (16,762ft) within 30km (19mi). The oldest national park in Africa, Virunga National Park covers nearly 8,000km2 (800,000 hectares) an area roughly three times the size of Luxembourg. And last, but not least, the heart-stopping, utterly gorgeous and mysterious Shelleys Crimsonwing, which has never been photographed other than when netted during biodiversity surveys. Habituation is a critical component of gorilla conservation, as it allows for detailed research to be undertaken on the species. Together with Queen Elizabeth National Park, Virunga is considered by the IUCN to be a Lion Conservation Unit. While many of the gorillas sensibly prefer to reside on the slopes of the dormant Mikeno volcano, the southern section is also the location of the two active volcanoes in the park Mount Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira. In 2008, the Congolese National Parks Authority, (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, ICCN), and the Virunga Foundation (then known as the Africa Conservation Foundation), entered into a partnership to manage the Park.
where are the virunga mountains located