Jos Plateau

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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 at 2010 metres, it is the only region of temperate climate of Nigeria. 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.

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 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 during and after the colonial period.

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

History

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 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.

Language and Culture

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 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 Mwahavul, Pyrm, Ron, Eggon, Chokfem, and Kofyar.

References

• 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.
• "Jos Plateau". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9043989/Jos-Plateau. 
• "World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report". World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report. National Geographic Society. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/at/at1010.html. Retrieved 2007-07-19. 
• MSN maps reference: "Encarta on MSN Map". http://encarta.msn.com/map_701513529/jos_plateau.html. Retrieved 2009-01-24. 

Coordinates: 9°34′00″N 9°05′00″E / 9.56666666667°N 9.08333333333°E / 9.56666666667; 9.08333333333

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