Pico do Príncipe is a mountain on the island of Príncipe, the smaller of the two inhabited islands of São Tomé and Príncipe. The elevation of the mountain is 947 metres (3,107 ft), making it the highest peak on the island.[1] The island is one of the volcanic swells that make up the Cameroon line of extinct and active volcanoes.[2]
Map of the Gulf of Guinea, showing Principe in the chain of islands formed by the Cameroon line of volcanoes.Pico Papagaio, the peak north of Pico do Príncipe
Topologyedit
The mountain is the remains of a volcano that has been inactive for 15.7 million years. The volcanoes on this island were at first primarily basalt, but later phonolite intruded in their cores. The basalt has been deeply eroded, leaving spectacular towers of the harder phonolite rising almost vertically from the rainforest.[3]
The peak has only occasionally been explored, with the first expedition in 1929 having established a base on the top. A second trip was made in 1956, but could not make a serious botanical inventory due to poor weather. The 1999 trip found that the mountain rises from a heavily forested plateau with elevation 600 to 700 metres (2,000 to 2,300 ft). From there, a series of ridges lead to the summit. At higher elevations the trees are more open and there are more epiphytes - plants that grow on the trees. The summit is a small mound surrounded on three sides by precipices.[4]
Ecologyedit
The 1999 expedition was by members of Ecofac, a Non-Government Organization that plans to assist in conservation through helping to develop ecotourism on the island.[5] The ecology of the forests on and around the mountain has not been well-researched, but some endemic species of birds and orchids have been found, and it seem clear that there are many endemic plants and insects.[4] A proposed conservation zone covering one third of Principe would include this mountain and three others higher than 500m: Mesa (537m), Pico Papagaio (680m) and Pico Mencorne (921m). 28 species of birds have been recorded in the area, of which seven are endemic to Principe and four are of global conservation concern. Other endemic species are the skink Feylinia polylepis, the burrrowing snake Typhlops elegans and the frog Leptopelis palmatus. An endemic sub-species of the shrew Crocidura poensis is also present.[6]
^Burke, Kevin (2001). "Origin of the Cameroon Line of Volcano-Capped Swells" (PDF). The Journal of Geology. 109 (3): 349–362. Bibcode:2001JG....109..349B. doi:10.1086/319977. S2CID 44001852. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
^Becker, Kathleen (2008). São Tomé and Príncipe. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 3. ISBN978-1-84162-216-3.
^ abJonathan Baillie, Gilles Joffroy and Tariq Stevart (February 2000). . Canopée. 16. Ecofac. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
^Sophie Warne (2003). Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 229. ISBN1-84162-073-4.
pico, príncipe, mountain, island, príncipe, smaller, inhabited, islands, são, tomé, príncipe, elevation, mountain, metres, making, highest, peak, island, island, volcanic, swells, that, make, cameroon, line, extinct, active, volcanoes, location, príncipehighes. Pico do Principe is a mountain on the island of Principe the smaller of the two inhabited islands of Sao Tome and Principe The elevation of the mountain is 947 metres 3 107 ft making it the highest peak on the island 1 The island is one of the volcanic swells that make up the Cameroon line of extinct and active volcanoes 2 Pico do PrincipePico do PrincipeLocation on PrincipeHighest pointElevation947 m 3 107 ft 1 Prominence947 m 3 107 ft ListingList of mountains in Sao Tome and PrincipeCoordinates1 34 47 N 7 22 56 E 1 5797 N 7 3823 E 1 5797 7 3823GeographyLocationSouthern Principe Island Sao Tome and Principe Map of the Gulf of Guinea showing Principe in the chain of islands formed by the Cameroon line of volcanoes Pico Papagaio the peak north of Pico do PrincipeTopology editThe mountain is the remains of a volcano that has been inactive for 15 7 million years The volcanoes on this island were at first primarily basalt but later phonolite intruded in their cores The basalt has been deeply eroded leaving spectacular towers of the harder phonolite rising almost vertically from the rainforest 3 The peak has only occasionally been explored with the first expedition in 1929 having established a base on the top A second trip was made in 1956 but could not make a serious botanical inventory due to poor weather The 1999 trip found that the mountain rises from a heavily forested plateau with elevation 600 to 700 metres 2 000 to 2 300 ft From there a series of ridges lead to the summit At higher elevations the trees are more open and there are more epiphytes plants that grow on the trees The summit is a small mound surrounded on three sides by precipices 4 Ecology editThe 1999 expedition was by members of Ecofac a Non Government Organization that plans to assist in conservation through helping to develop ecotourism on the island 5 The ecology of the forests on and around the mountain has not been well researched but some endemic species of birds and orchids have been found and it seem clear that there are many endemic plants and insects 4 A proposed conservation zone covering one third of Principe would include this mountain and three others higher than 500m Mesa 537m Pico Papagaio 680m and Pico Mencorne 921m 28 species of birds have been recorded in the area of which seven are endemic to Principe and four are of global conservation concern Other endemic species are the skink Feylinia polylepis the burrrowing snake Typhlops elegans and the frog Leptopelis palmatus An endemic sub species of the shrew Crocidura poensis is also present 6 References edit a b Sailing Directions Enroute Pub 123 Southwest Coast of Africa PDF Sailing Directions United States National Geospatial Intelligence Agency 2017 p 74 Burke Kevin 2001 Origin of the Cameroon Line of Volcano Capped Swells PDF The Journal of Geology 109 3 349 362 Bibcode 2001JG 109 349B doi 10 1086 319977 S2CID 44001852 Retrieved 2011 02 01 Becker Kathleen 2008 Sao Tome and Principe Bradt Travel Guides p 3 ISBN 978 1 84162 216 3 a b Jonathan Baillie Gilles Joffroy and Tariq Stevart February 2000 Exploration du Pico de Principe Canopee 16 Ecofac Archived from the original on 2011 09 29 Retrieved 2011 02 05 Sophie Warne 2003 Gabon Sao Tome and Principe Bradt Travel Guides p 229 ISBN 1 84162 073 4 BirdLife International Principe forests Retrieved 2018 10 28 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pico do Principe amp oldid 1014723882, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
