Obo National Park
Encyclopedia
Obo National Park is a national park of São Tomé and Príncipe
, covering some 235 km² (30 % of the island) of Sao Tomé
in its south and 65 km² of the island of Príncipe
. The national park is known internationally amongst conservationists for its biologically rich dense virgin rainforests. It is also characterized by a wide range of biotope
s, from lowland and mountain forests, to mangrove
s and savanna
area, which contribute to its unique ecosystem. The park includes virgin Atlantic high altitude rainforest and secondary rainforest (known to locals as capoeira) which contains abandoned plantations.
In 1988, scientists classified the forests of São Tomé and Príncipe as the second most important in terms of biological interest out of 75 forests of Africa; most of the species found in the islands are found in the national park. The WWF
has listed the forests of the national park as among the Global 200
, the 200 most important biological areas on the planet and the forest of Obo is listed as an Important Bird Area
(IBA) of Africa.
The Pico Cão Grande
is located in the southern-central part of the park on the island of Sao Tomé and rises dramatically in a needle-like shape over 300 metres (984.3 ft) above the surrounding terrain and the summit is 663 metres (2,175.2 ft) above sea level
.
The average annual rainfall is 2493 millimetres (98.1 in). The park's altitude ranges between 0–1973 m (0–6,473.1 ).
, as well as Newton's Grassland Frog, Sao Tome Giant Treefrog, Sao Tome Caecilian, Moller's Gulf Frog, and Peters' River Frog.
São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. It consists of two islands: São Tomé and Príncipe, located about apart and about , respectively, off...
, covering some 235 km² (30 % of the island) of Sao Tomé
São Tomé Island
São Tomé Island, at , is the largest island of São Tomé and Príncipe and is home in 2009 to about 157,000 or 96% of the nation's population. This island and smaller nearby islets make up São Tomé Province, which is divided into six districts. The main island is located 2 km north of the...
in its south and 65 km² of the island of Príncipe
Príncipe
Príncipe is the northern and smaller of the two major islands of the country of São Tomé and Príncipe lying off the west coast of Africa. It has an area of 136 km² and a population of approximately 5,000. The island is a heavily eroded volcano over three million years old, surrounded by other...
. The national park is known internationally amongst conservationists for its biologically rich dense virgin rainforests. It is also characterized by a wide range of biotope
Biotope
Biotope is an area of uniform environmental conditions providing a living place for a specific assemblage of plants and animals. Biotope is almost synonymous with the term habitat, but while the subject of a habitat is a species or a population, the subject of a biotope is a biological community.It...
s, from lowland and mountain forests, to mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
s and savanna
Savanna
A savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of C4 grasses.Some...
area, which contribute to its unique ecosystem. The park includes virgin Atlantic high altitude rainforest and secondary rainforest (known to locals as capoeira) which contains abandoned plantations.
In 1988, scientists classified the forests of São Tomé and Príncipe as the second most important in terms of biological interest out of 75 forests of Africa; most of the species found in the islands are found in the national park. The WWF
WWF
WWF may refer to:*World Wide Fund for Nature, a nature conservation organisation previously named World Wildlife Fund WWF may refer to:*World Wide Fund for Nature, a nature conservation organisation previously named World Wildlife Fund WWF may refer to:*World Wide Fund for Nature, a nature...
has listed the forests of the national park as among the Global 200
Global 200
The Global 200 is the list of ecoregions identified by the World Wildlife Fund as priorities for conservation. According to the WWF, an ecoregion is defined as a "relatively large unit of land or water containing a characteristic set of natural communities that share a large majority of their...
, the 200 most important biological areas on the planet and the forest of Obo is listed as an Important Bird Area
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
(IBA) of Africa.
The Pico Cão Grande
Pico Cão Grande
The Pico Cão Grande is a landmark needle-shaped volcanic plug peak in São Tomé and Príncipe, located in the south of the island of São Tomé in Obo National Park. It rises dramatically over 300 m above the surrounding terrain and the summit is 663 m above sea level.-References:...
is located in the southern-central part of the park on the island of Sao Tomé and rises dramatically in a needle-like shape over 300 metres (984.3 ft) above the surrounding terrain and the summit is 663 metres (2,175.2 ft) above sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
.
The average annual rainfall is 2493 millimetres (98.1 in). The park's altitude ranges between 0–1973 m (0–6,473.1 ).
Flora and fauna
The rainforests contain 100 unique orchids, and over 700 species of flora. The park's fauna includes the African manateeAfrican Manatee
The African manatee , also known as the West African manatee or seacow, is a species of manatee and is the most endangered of the four species of sirenians. Scientists think they are most similar to West Indian manatees...
, as well as Newton's Grassland Frog, Sao Tome Giant Treefrog, Sao Tome Caecilian, Moller's Gulf Frog, and Peters' River Frog.