The Ziama Massif is a forested mountain range in

Nzérékoré Region The Nzérékoré Region ( nqo, ߒߛߙߍߜߍ߬ߘߍ߫ ߕߌ߲߬ߞߎߘߎ߲) is a region in the southern part of Guinea. Its capital and largest city is Nzérékoré. It is one of the eight regions of Guinea. It is bordered by the countries of Sierr ...

of southeastern

Guinea Guinea ( ),, fuf, 𞤘𞤭𞤲𞤫, italic=no, Gine, wo, Gine, nqo, ߖߌ߬ߣߍ߫, bm, Gine officially the Republic of Guinea (french: République de Guinée), is a coastal country in West Africa. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the we ...

Geography

The Ziama Massif extends northeast-southwest, continuing south into Liberia as the Kpo Range. The eastern slopes are drained by the St. Paul River, and the western slopes by the

Lofa River The Lofa or Loffa is a river whose headwaters originate in eastern Guinea northeast of Macenta. The river runs southwest through northeastern Liberia before draining into the North Atlantic Ocean.(1) .(2) . Historically it has also been known as ...

; both rivers drain southwest through Liberia to empty into the Atlantic Ocean. The highest points of the massif reach to almost 1,400 meters above sea level. The forested landscape includes valleys, plateaus, rounded ridges, rocky peaks, sheer cliffs and granite outcrops.

Flora and fauna

The Ziama Massif is part of the

Guinean montane forests The Guinean montane forests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of West Africa. The ecoregion occupies the portions of the Guinea Highlands lying above 600 meters elevation, extending across portions of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia ...

ecoregion, and harbors a distinct flora and fauna from the surrounding lowlands.

Ziama Strict Nature Reserve

The Ziama Forest was designated a nature reserve in 1932 and approved as a

Biosphere Reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or o ...

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

in 1980, covering 1,161.70 km². It is considered by conservationists as a relict of the diminishing Upper Guinean forest formation. The Ziama Massif Biosphere Reserve is home to more than 1,300 species of plants and more than 500 species of animals."Guinea Highlands". ''Encyclopædia Britannica.'' Accessed 27 September 2015

/ref>

Gallery

File:Montane rainforest near to Sérédou (Northern limit of Ziama Massif).jpg, Montane rainforest near to Sérédou (Northern limit of Ziama Massif). File:Landscape of Ziama Massif.jpg, Mountains near to Sérédou.

References

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External links