Albertine Rift: Difference between revisions

The '''Albertine Rift''' is the western branch of the [[East African Rift]], covering parts of [[Uganda]], the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] (DRC), [[Rwanda]], [[Burundi]] and [[Tanzania]].

It extends from the northern end of [[Lake Albert (Africa)|Lake Albert]] to the southern end of [[Lake Tanganyika]].

 

==Geology==

The Albertine Rift and the mountains are the result of [[Plate tectonics|tectonic movements]] that are gradually splitting the [[Somali Plate]] away from the rest of the African continent. The mountains surrounding the rift are composed of uplifted [[Pre-Cambrian]] [[basement rock]]s, overlaid in parts by recent [[volcanic rock]]s.

 

==Lakes and rivers==

The northern part of the rift is crossed by two large mountain ranges, the [[Rwenzori Mountains]] between Lake Albert and [[Lake Rutanzige]] (formerly Lake Edward) and the [[Virunga Mountains]] between Lake Rutanziga and [[Lake Kivu]]. The Virungas form a barrier between the Nile Basin to the north and east and the Congo Basin to the west and south. Lake Rutenzige is fed by several large rivers, the [[Rutshuru River]] being one, and drains to the north through the [[Semliki River]] into Lake Albert. The Victoria Nile flows from [[Lake Victoria]] into the northern end of Lake Albert and exits as the [[White Nile]] from a point slightly to the west, flowing north to the Mediterranean.{{sfn|Erfurt-Cooper|Cooper|2010|p=35-36}}

 

 

==Mountains==

From north to south the mountains include the [[Lendu Plateau]], [[Rwenzori Mountains]], [[Virunga Mountains]] and [[Itombwe Mountains]].{{sfn|WWF}}

The Ruwenzori mountains have been identified with Ptolemy's "Mountains of the Moon". The range covers an area {{convert|120|km|mi}} long and {{convert|65|km|mi}} wide.