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Coordinates: 9°34′00″N 9°05′00″E / 9.5667°N 9.0833°E / 9.5667; 9.0833
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{{Coord|9.5667|N|9.0833|E|source:dewiki_region:NG-PL_scale:200000_type:mountain|format=dms|display=title}}
{{More footnotes|date=April 2009}}
{{Infobox ecoregion
{{Clear}}
| name = Jos Plateau<br><small>Jos Plateau forest-grassland mosaic</small>
[[Image:AT1010 map.png|right|thumb|250px|Location of the Jos Plateau]]
| image = Hills in the eastern part of the city, Jos (07).jpg
The '''Jos Plateau''' is a [[plateau]] located near the centre of [[Nigeria]]. It covers 8600&nbsp;km² and is bounded by 300-600 m [[escarpments]] around much of its [[circumference]]. With an average altitude of 1280 m, it is the largest area over 1000 m in Nigeria, with a high point of 1829 m, in the [[Shere Hills]]. The plateau has given its name to the [[Plateau State]] in which it is found and is itself named for the state's capital, [[Jos]].
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Hillside near [[Jos]]
| map = Image:AT1010 map.png
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location of the Jos Plateau
| biogeographic_realm = [[Afrotropical realm|Afrotropical]]
| biome = [[montane grasslands and shrublands]]
| border = [[Guinean forest-savanna mosaic]]
| border1 = [[West Sudanian savanna]]
| area = 13,281
| country = [[Nigeria]]
| state = [[Plateau State|Plateau]]
| state1 = [[Bauchi State|Bauchi]]
| state2 = [[Kaduna State|Kaduna]]
| region_type =
| bird_species =
| mammal_species =
| habitat_loss =
| habitat_loss_ref =
⚫
| conservation = Critical/endangered<ref name = wwf>{{WWF ecoregion|id=at1010|name=Jos Plateau forest-grassland mosaic}}</ref>
|protected = 1,199 km<sup>2</sup> (9
|protected_ref = )<ref name=dinerstein>{{cite journal | first1=Eric | last1=Dinerstein | first2=David | last2=Olson | display-authors=etal | year=2017 | title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm | journal=BioScience | volume=67 | issue=6 | date=June 2017 | pages=534–545 | doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014| pmid=28608869 | pmc=5451287 | doi-access=free }} Supplemental material 2 table S1b.</ref>
|embedded =
}}


The '''Jos Plateau''' is a [[plateau]] located near the centre of [[Nigeria]]. The plateau has given its name to the [[Plateau State]] in which it is found and is named for the state's capital, [[Jos]]. The plateau is home to people of diverse cultures and languages. The plateau's [[Montane ecosystems|montane]] grasslands, [[savanna]]s, and forests are home to communities of plants and animals distinct from those of the surrounding lowlands and constitute the Jos Plateau forest-savanna mosaic [[ecoregion]].
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== Geology ==
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The Jos Plateau is dominated by three rock types. The Older [[Granites]] date to the late Cambrian and Ordovician. The Younger Granites are emplacements dating to the Jurassic, and forming part of a series that includes the [[Aïr Mountains|Aïr Massif]] in the central [[Sahara]]. There are also many volcanoes and sheets of basalt extruded since the Pliocene (Morgan 1983).



The Younger Granites contain [[tin]] which was mined since the beginning of the 20th century, during and after the colonial period.<ref name="pasquini">{{cite journal
[[File:North-Eastern part of Jos, Nigeria (04).jpg|thumb|North-Eastern_part_of_Jos,_Nigeria_(04)]]
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| last = Pasquini

⚫
| first = MW
At the start of the 20th century, the British established Jos as a tin-mining metropolis. Many individuals from Southern and Northern Nigeria came to Jos for work and business because of the tin industry on the plateau.<ref>Freund William (1986), “Theft and Social Protest among the Tin Miners of Northern Nigeria,” in Donald Crummey (ed.), Banditry, Rebellion and Social Protest in Africa, Oxford: James Curney, pp. 49-63</ref> Situated in North-Central Nigeria, the area consists of rolling hills on a plateau. Because of its diverse range of landforms and stunning scenery, the Jos Plateau is a popular tourist destination.<ref>Iro Aghedo, D. N. N. (2018). Plateau.</ref>

==Geography==
It covers 8600&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> and is bounded by 300–600 m [[escarpment]]s around much of its boundary. With an average altitude of 1,280 m, it is the largest area over 1,000 m in Nigeria, with a high point of 1,829 m, in the [[Shere Hills]]. Several rivers have their sources on the plateau. The [[Kaduna River]] drains the western slopes, flowing southwest to join the [[Niger River|Niger]]. The [[Gongola River]] drains eastwards to join the [[Benue River|Benue]]. The [[Hadejia River|Hadejia]] and [[Yobe River|Yobe]] rivers flow northeast into [[Lake Chad]].

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=== Geology ===
⚫
The Jos Plateau is dominated by three rock types. The older [[granite]]s date to the late Cambrian and Ordovician. The younger granites are emplacements dating to the Jurassic and form part of a series that includes the [[Aïr Mountains|Aïr Massif]] in the central [[Sahara]]. There are also many volcanoes and sheets of basalt extruded since the Pliocene.<ref>Morgan, W.T.W. (1983) ''Nigeria''. Longman, London.</ref> The younger granites contain [[tin]] which was mined since the beginning of the 20th century, during and after the colonial period.<ref name="pasquini">{{cite journal
⚫
| last1 = Pasquini
⚫
| first1 = MW
| last2 = Alexander
| last2 = Alexander
| first2 = MJ
| first2 = MJ
Line 22: Line 56:
| doi = 10.1111/j.1475-4959.2005.00154.x
| doi = 10.1111/j.1475-4959.2005.00154.x
}}</ref>
}}</ref>

Important rivers are [[Kaduna River|Kaduna]], [[Gongola River|Gongola]], [[Hadejia River|Hadejia]] and [[Yobe River|Yobe]], which have their source in this place.


== Climate ==
== Climate ==
The climate on the plateau is tropical but cooler than the surrounding lowlands. Average temperatures range from 15.5&nbsp;°C to 18.5&nbsp;°C in the coolest months to 27.5&nbsp;°C to 30.5&nbsp;°C during the hottest months. Rainfall ranges from 2,000&nbsp;mm per year in the southwest to 1,500&nbsp;mm or less in the drier northeast. Rainfall for the town of Jos averages 1,411&nbsp;mm per year. Rainfall is highly seasonal, falling mostly between June and September with July and August the wettest months. Moisture-bearing winds come from the south and west, and rainfall is higher on the windward south- and west-facing slopes.<ref name = wwf/>
The climate on the Plateau is the semi-[[temperate climate]] with temperatures ranging from {{convert|18|°C|°F|1}} to {{convert|25|°C|°F|1}}.


== History ==
==Flora and fauna==
{{Further|Guinean forest–savanna mosaic}}
The Jos Plateau is home to the ancient [[Nok culture]], known for its remarkable terracotta artwork.
⚫
The natural vegetation of the region was likely a [[Forest–savanna mosaic|mosaic of savanna, open woodland, and forest]]. Human activities have reduced the plateau's tree cover, and most of the plateau is now covered by open grassland. Small areas of woodland and forest remain on steep and inaccessible sites, including the southern and western escarpments, along rivers, and at the base of rock outcrops.<ref name = wwf/> The plateau is home to West Africa’s only population of [[klipspringer]] (''Oreotragus oreotragus''), as well as several endemic birds and mammals, including the [[Nigerian mole-rat]] (''Cryptomys foxi''), [[Fox's shaggy rat]] (''Dasymys foxi''), [[rock firefinch]] (''Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis''), and [[Jos Plateau indigobird]] (''Vidua maryae'').<ref name="wwf" />


==People==
⚫
After the [[History of Nigeria|British colonization of Nigeria]], Jos Plateau became a mining region and one of the most important tourist destinations in Nigeria, but touristic activity was impeded in early 21st century by a new conflict between Christians and Muslims as a result of tribal and political differences between the inhabitants of the Jos Plateau.
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{{Further|Platoid languages}}
⚫
The Jos Plateau lies in the Nigerian [[Middle Belt]], and even in this region known for cultural diversity, it is unusually diverse. Barbour et al. (1982:49) show over 60 ethno-linguistic groups on the plateau.<ref>{{Cite book|last=State.|first=Better Life Programme (Nigeria). Plateau|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/29704741|title=Traditional dishes, snacks, drinks & herbs from Plateau State.|date=c. 1992|publisher=[Better Life Programme, Plateau State]|oclc=29704741}}</ref> Most of the plateau's languages are in the Chadic family,<ref>Isichei, Elizabeth (1982). "Introduction". In ''Studies in the History of Plateau State'', Nigeria, ed. by [[Elizabeth Isichei]], pp 1–57. Macmillan, London.</ref> which is part of the Afro-Asiatic family. Two of the Plateau's largest ethnic groups are the [[Berom people|Berom]], in the northern Plateau, and the [[Angas people|Ngas]] in the southeast. Smaller groups include the Mwaghavul, Pyem, Ron, [[Afusari|Afizere]], Anaguta, Aten, [[Irigwe people|Irigwe]], Chokfem, [[Kofyar]], Kulere, Miship, Mupun and Montol.


The state's 3.2 million inhabitants are made up of more than 50 ethnic groups out of Nigeria's 374 tribes, making it a tiny version of Nigeria in terms of variety.<ref>Madueke Kingsley (2018), “Routing Ethnic Violence in a Divided City: Walking in the Footsteps of Armed Mobs in Jos, Nigeria”, Journal of Modern African Studies, 56(3):443-470</ref> In addition, the state is home to sizable populations of Hausa-Fulani, Igbo, and Yoruba immigrants (also known as farmers as opposed to herders who go around).<ref>Adisa, R. S. and Adekunle, O. A. (2010). Farmer-Herdsmen Conflicts: A Factor Analysis of Socio-economic Conflict Variables among Arable Crop Farmers in North Central Nigeria. Journal of Human Ecology, 30(1), 1-9</ref>
==Language and culture==
⚫
{{further|Platoid languages}}
⚫
The Jos Plateau lies in the Nigerian [[Middle Belt]], and even in this region known for cultural diversity, it is unusually diverse. Barbour et al. (1982:49) show over 60 ethno-linguistic groups on the plateau. Most of the plateau's languages are in the Chadic family (Isichei 1982), which is part of the Afro-Asiatic family. Two of the Plateau's largest ethnic groups are the [[Berom people|Berom]], in the northern Plateau, and the Angas in the southeast. Smaller groups include the Mwaghavul, Pyem, Ron, Afizere, Anaguta, Aten, Irigwe, Chokfem, [[Kofyar]], Kulere, Mship, Mupun and Montol.


⚫
The Jos Plateau is home to the ancient [[Nok culture]], known for its remarkable terracotta artwork. After the [[History of Nigeria|British colonization of Nigeria]], Jos Plateau became a mining region and one of the most important tourist destinations in Nigeria, but touristic activity was impeded in early 21st century by a new conflict between Christians and Muslims as a result of tribal and political differences between the inhabitants of the Jos Plateau.
==Fauna==
⚫
The plateau is home to West Africa’s only population of [[klipspringer]] (''Oreotragus oreotragus''), as well as several endemic birds and mammals, including [[Nigerian mole-rat]] (''Cryptomys foxi'') and [[Fox's shaggy rat]] (''Dasymys foxi'') the [[rock firefinch]] (''Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis'') and the [[Jos Plateau indigobird]] (''Vidua maryae'').<ref>{{WWF ecoregion|id=at1010|name=Jos Plateau forest-grassland mosaic|accessdate=June 25, 2011}}</ref>


===Threats and preservation===
==Threats and conservation==
The Jos plateau is a heavily populated area with loss of native savanna and woodland to farmland conversion and firewood collection; remaining native fauna is predominately limited to small areas in the more remote areas and river embankments. There is currently no [[conservation (ethic)|conservation]] program for this [[ecoregion]].
The Jos plateau is a heavily populated area with loss of native savanna and woodland to farmland conversion and firewood collection; remaining native fauna is predominantly limited to small areas in the more remote areas and river embankments. There is currently no conservation program for this ecoregion. Due to [[tin mining]] activity some 320&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> of agricultural land has been disturbed.<ref name="pasquini" /> The situation has been improved since by local farmers due to usage of traditional as well as modern fertilisation methods which combined includes manure, urban waste ash and inorganic fertilizers.<ref name="pasquini" /> Approximately 1,199&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, or 9%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas.<ref name="dinerstein" /> Protected areas include the Jarawa Hill, Jere, Rafin Bawa, Panshanu, Guram River, Assob Bachit, Kurra Jekko, and Abak River forest reserves.<ref>UNEP-WCMC (2020). Protected Area Profile for Nigeria from the World Database of Protected Areas, September 2020. Available at: www.protectedplanet.net</ref>

Due to tin mining activity some 320&nbsp;km² of agricultural land has been disturbed.<ref name="pasquini" /> The situation has been improved since by local farmers due to usage of traditional as well as modern fertilisation methods which combined includes manure, urban waste ash and inorganic fertilizers.<ref name="pasquini" />

{{commonscat|Plateau State}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

* Barbour, K.M., et al., editors. 1982 ''Nigeria in Maps''. Hodder and Stoughton, London.
* Barbour, K.M., et al., editors. 1982 ''Nigeria in Maps''. Hodder and Stoughton, London.
* Isichei, Elizabeth. 1982. Introduction. In ''Studies in the History of Plateau State'', Nigeria, ed. by [[Elizabeth Isichei]], pp 1–57. Macmillan, London.
* Morgan, W.T.W. 1983 ''Nigeria''. Longman, London.
*{{cite encyclopedia |year= |title =Jos Plateau |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9043989/Jos-Plateau}}
*{{cite encyclopedia |year= |title =Jos Plateau |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9043989/Jos-Plateau}}
⚫
*{{NatGeo ecoregion|id=at1010|name=Jos Plateau forest-grassland mosaic|accessdate=2007-07-19}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://sites.google.com/site/hillsofplateau/ Hiking on the Plateau]
* {{cite gvp|name=Jos Plateau|vn=224060|access-date=2021-06-24}}
* {{WWF ecoregion|id=at1010|name=Jos Plateau forest-grassland mosaic}}


{{Authority control}}
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{{coord|9.5667|N|9.0833|E|source:dewiki_region:NG-PL_scale:200000_type:mountain|format=dms|display=title}}


[[Category:Afromontane ecoregions]]
[[Category:Afromontane ecoregions]]
[[Category:Afrotropic ecoregions]]
[[Category:Afrotropical ecoregions]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Nigeria]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Nigeria]]
[[Category:Montane grasslands and shrublands]]
[[Category:Montane grasslands and shrublands]]
Line 68: Line 94:
[[Category:Plateau State]]
[[Category:Plateau State]]
[[Category:Volcanoes of Nigeria]]
[[Category:Volcanoes of Nigeria]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites of Western Africa]]

Revision as of 13:20, 18 August 2024

9°34′00″N 9°05′00″E / 9.5667°N 9.0833°E / 9.5667; 9.0833

Jos Plateau
Jos Plateau forest-grassland mosaic
Hillside near Jos
Location of the Jos Plateau
Ecology
RealmAfrotropical
Biomemontane grasslands and shrublands
Borders
Geography
Area13,281 km2 (5,128 sq mi)
CountryNigeria
States
Conservation
Conservation statusCritical/endangered[1]
Protected1,199 km2 (9%)[2]

The Jos Plateau is a plateau located near the centre of Nigeria. The plateau has given its name to the Plateau State in which it is found and is named for the state's capital, Jos. The plateau is home to people of diverse cultures and languages. The plateau's montane grasslands, savannas, and forests are home to communities of plants and animals distinct from those of the surrounding lowlands and constitute the Jos Plateau forest-savanna mosaic ecoregion.


North-Eastern_part_of_Jos,_Nigeria_(04)

At the start of the 20th century, the British established Jos as a tin-mining metropolis. Many individuals from Southern and Northern Nigeria came to Jos for work and business because of the tin industry on the plateau.[3] Situated in North-Central Nigeria, the area consists of rolling hills on a plateau. Because of its diverse range of landforms and stunning scenery, the Jos Plateau is a popular tourist destination.[4]

Geography

It covers 8600 km2 and is bounded by 300–600 m escarpments around much of its boundary. With an average altitude of 1,280 m, it is the largest area over 1,000 m in Nigeria, with a high point of 1,829 m, in the Shere Hills. Several rivers have their sources on the plateau. The Kaduna River drains the western slopes, flowing southwest to join the Niger. The Gongola River drains eastwards to join the Benue. The Hadejia and Yobe rivers flow northeast into Lake Chad.

Geology

The Jos Plateau is dominated by three rock types. The older granites date to the late Cambrian and Ordovician. The younger granites are emplacements dating to the Jurassic and form part of a series that includes the Aïr Massif in the central Sahara. There are also many volcanoes and sheets of basalt extruded since the Pliocene.[5] The younger granites contain tin which was mined since the beginning of the 20th century, during and after the colonial period.[6]

Climate

The climate on the plateau is tropical but cooler than the surrounding lowlands. Average temperatures range from 15.5 °C to 18.5 °C in the coolest months to 27.5 °C to 30.5 °C during the hottest months. Rainfall ranges from 2,000 mm per year in the southwest to 1,500 mm or less in the drier northeast. Rainfall for the town of Jos averages 1,411 mm per year. Rainfall is highly seasonal, falling mostly between June and September with July and August the wettest months. Moisture-bearing winds come from the south and west, and rainfall is higher on the windward south- and west-facing slopes.[1]

Flora and fauna

Further information: Guinean forest–savanna mosaic

The natural vegetation of the region was likely a mosaic of savanna, open woodland, and forest. Human activities have reduced the plateau's tree cover, and most of the plateau is now covered by open grassland. Small areas of woodland and forest remain on steep and inaccessible sites, including the southern and western escarpments, along rivers, and at the base of rock outcrops.[1] The plateau is home to West Africa’s only population of klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus), as well as several endemic birds and mammals, including the Nigerian mole-rat (Cryptomys foxi), Fox's shaggy rat (Dasymys foxi), rock firefinch (Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis), and Jos Plateau indigobird (Vidua maryae).[1]

People

Further information: Platoid languages

The Jos Plateau lies in the Nigerian Middle Belt, and even in this region known for cultural diversity, it is unusually diverse. Barbour et al. (1982:49) show over 60 ethno-linguistic groups on the plateau.[7] Most of the plateau's languages are in the Chadic family,[8] which is part of the Afro-Asiatic family. Two of the Plateau's largest ethnic groups are the Berom, in the northern Plateau, and the Ngas in the southeast. Smaller groups include the Mwaghavul, Pyem, Ron, Afizere, Anaguta, Aten, Irigwe, Chokfem, Kofyar, Kulere, Miship, Mupun and Montol.

The state's 3.2 million inhabitants are made up of more than 50 ethnic groups out of Nigeria's 374 tribes, making it a tiny version of Nigeria in terms of variety.[9] In addition, the state is home to sizable populations of Hausa-Fulani, Igbo, and Yoruba immigrants (also known as farmers as opposed to herders who go around).[10]

The Jos Plateau is home to the ancient Nok culture, known for its remarkable terracotta artwork. After the British colonization of Nigeria, Jos Plateau became a mining region and one of the most important tourist destinations in Nigeria, but touristic activity was impeded in early 21st century by a new conflict between Christians and Muslims as a result of tribal and political differences between the inhabitants of the Jos Plateau.

Threats and conservation

The Jos plateau is a heavily populated area with loss of native savanna and woodland to farmland conversion and firewood collection; remaining native fauna is predominantly limited to small areas in the more remote areas and river embankments. There is currently no conservation program for this ecoregion. Due to tin mining activity some 320 km2 of agricultural land has been disturbed.[6] The situation has been improved since by local farmers due to usage of traditional as well as modern fertilisation methods which combined includes manure, urban waste ash and inorganic fertilizers.[6] Approximately 1,199 km2, or 9%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas.[2] Protected areas include the Jarawa Hill, Jere, Rafin Bawa, Panshanu, Guram River, Assob Bachit, Kurra Jekko, and Abak River forest reserves.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Jos Plateau forest-grassland mosaic". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  2. ^ a b Dinerstein, Eric; Olson, David; et al. (June 2017). "An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm". BioScience. 67 (6): 534–545. doi:10.1093/biosci/bix014. PMC 5451287. PMID 28608869.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) Supplemental material 2 table S1b.
  3. ^ Freund William (1986), “Theft and Social Protest among the Tin Miners of Northern Nigeria,” in Donald Crummey (ed.), Banditry, Rebellion and Social Protest in Africa, Oxford: James Curney, pp. 49-63
  4. ^ Iro Aghedo, D. N. N. (2018). Plateau.
  5. ^ Morgan, W.T.W. (1983) Nigeria. Longman, London.
  6. ^ a b c Pasquini, MW; Alexander, MJ (2005). "Soil fertility management strategies on the Jos Plateau: the need for integrating 'empirical' and 'scientific' knowledge in agricultural development". Geographical Journal. 171 (2): 112–124. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4959.2005.00154.x.
  7. ^ State., Better Life Programme (Nigeria). Plateau (c. 1992). Traditional dishes, snacks, drinks & herbs from Plateau State. [Better Life Programme, Plateau State]. OCLC 29704741.
  8. ^ Isichei, Elizabeth (1982). "Introduction". In Studies in the History of Plateau State, Nigeria, ed. by Elizabeth Isichei, pp 1–57. Macmillan, London.
  9. ^ Madueke Kingsley (2018), “Routing Ethnic Violence in a Divided City: Walking in the Footsteps of Armed Mobs in Jos, Nigeria”, Journal of Modern African Studies, 56(3):443-470
  10. ^ Adisa, R. S. and Adekunle, O. A. (2010). Farmer-Herdsmen Conflicts: A Factor Analysis of Socio-economic Conflict Variables among Arable Crop Farmers in North Central Nigeria. Journal of Human Ecology, 30(1), 1-9
  11. ^ UNEP-WCMC (2020). Protected Area Profile for Nigeria from the World Database of Protected Areas, September 2020. Available at: www.protectedplanet.net
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