Jos Plateau
Encyclopedia
The Jos Plateau is a plateau
located near the center of Nigeria
. It covers 8600 km² and is bounded by 300-600 meter escarpments around much of its circumference
. With an average altitude of 1280 metres and its highest point is Shere Hills
1829 meters . The plateau has given its name to the State, Plateau State
in which it is found and is itself named for the state's capital, Jos
.
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 during and after the colonial period.
Important rivers are Kaduna
, Gongola
, Hadejia
and Yobe
, which have their source in this place.
After the british colonization of Nigeria
, Jos Plateau became 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.
, 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 phylum. Two of the Plateau's largest ethnic groups are the Berom
, in the northern Plateau, and the Angas in the southeast. Smaller groups include the Mwaghavul, Pyem, Ron, Eggon, Chokfem, and Kofyar
.
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
located near the center of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. It covers 8600 km² and is bounded by 300-600 meter escarpments around much of its circumference
Circumference
The circumference is the distance around a closed curve. Circumference is a special perimeter.-Circumference of a circle:The circumference of a circle is the length around it....
. With an average altitude of 1280 metres and its highest point is Shere Hills
Shere Hills
The Shere Hills are a range of undulating hills and rock formations on the Jos Plateau, situated about 10 kilometres to the East of Jos metropolis, the capital of Plateau State in the middle belt region of Nigeria.- Peaks :...
1829 meters . The plateau has given its name to the State, Plateau State
Plateau State
Plateau State is the twelfth largest state of Nigeria, and is roughly located in the center of the country. It is geographically unique in Nigeria because its boundaries totally surround the Jos Plateau, having the Jos Plateau totally in its central and northern part...
in which it is found and is itself named for the state's capital, Jos
Jos
Jos is a city in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.The city has a population of about 1.5 million residents. Popularly called "J-town" or "Jesus Our Saviour" by the residents, it is the administrative capital of Plateau State....
.
Geology
The Jos Plateau is dominated by three rock types. The Older Granites date to the late Cambrian and Orduvician. The Younger Granites are emplacements dating to the Jurassic, and forming part of a series that includes the Air massifAïr Mountains
The Aïr Mountains is a triangular massif, located in northern Niger, within the Sahara desert...
in the central sahara
Sahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
. There are also many volcanoes and sheets of basalt extruded since the Pliocene (Morgan 1983).
The Younger Granites contain tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
which was mined during and after the colonial period.
Important rivers are Kaduna
Kaduna River
The Kaduna River is a tributary of the Niger River which flows for 550 kilometres through Nigeria. It got its name from the crocodiles that lived in the river and surrounding area. Kaduna in the native dialect, Hausa, was the word for "crocodiles"....
, Gongola
Gongola River
The Gongola River is in northeastern Nigeria, the principal tributary of the Benue River.The upper course of the river as well as most of its tributaries are seasonal streams, but fill rapidly in August and September....
, Hadejia
Hadejia River
The Hadejia River is a river in northern Nigeria and is a tributary of the Yobe River .Among the cities and towns that lie on or near its banks are Hadejia and Nguru....
and Yobe
Yobe River
The Yobe River is a river in West Africa that flows into Lake Chad through Nigeria and Niger.Its tributaries include the Hadejia River and the Jama'are River...
, which have their source in this place.
Climate
The climate on the Plateau is the semi-temperate climate climate with temperatures ranging from 18 °C (64.4 °F) 25 °C (77 °F).History
The Jos Plateau is home to the ancient Nok culture, known for its remarkable terracotta artwork.After the british colonization of Nigeria
History of Nigeria
-Early history:Archaeological research, pioneered by Thurstan Shaw and Steve Daniels, has shown that people were already living in southwestern Nigeria as early as 9000 BC and perhaps earlier at Ugwuelle-Uturu in southeastern Nigeria, where microliths were used...
, Jos Plateau became 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.
Language and culture
The Jos Plateau lies in the Nigerian middle beltMiddle Belt
The Middle Belt is a human geographical term designating the region of central Nigeria populated largely by minority ethnic groups and stretching across the country longitudinally. The Middle Belt is indeterminate in that it lacks designated "borders" and is charactized by a heterogeneity and...
, 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 phylum. Two of the Plateau's largest ethnic groups are the Berom
Berom
The Berom people are the indigenous ethnic group of the Jos Plateau in Nigeria. Within Plateau State, they are concentrated mostly in the local government areas of, Jos South, Jos North, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom...
, in the northern Plateau, and the Angas in the southeast. Smaller groups include the Mwaghavul, Pyem, Ron, Eggon, Chokfem, and Kofyar
Kofyar
The Kofyar are a population in central Nigeria numbering around 50,000. After several anthropological studies, they provide good illustrations of how colonial authorities become unwittingly enmeshed in local politics; of sustainable subsistence agricultural production in crowded areas; of...
.