Atlantika Mountains

{{Short description|Mountains in Cameroon and Nigeria}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Atlantika Mountains | other_name = Alantika Mountains | image = | image_size = | image_upright = | image_alt = | image_caption = | map = Cameroon | map_size = 250 | map_caption = Location of the Atlantika Mountains in Cameroon | map_relief = yes   | highest = 1 885 m | highest_location = | elevation = | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = | elevation_ref = | elevation_system = | prominence = | prominence_m = | prominence_ft = | prominence_ref = | parent_peak = | isolation = | isolation_km = | isolation_mi = | isolation_parent = | isolation_ref = | listing = | coordinates = {{coord|8.661809|N|12.642517|E}} | coordinates_ref =  | length = | length_km = | length_mi = | length_orientation = | length_ref = | width = | width_km = | width_mi = | width_orientation = | width_ref = | area = | area_ref = | volume = | volume_ref =  | etymology = | nickname = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | translation = | pronunciation = | authority =  | location = | country = Cameroon and Nigeria | state = | state_type = | region = | region_type = | district = | district_type = | part = | part_type = | settlement = | settlement_type = | range_coordinates = | range_coordinates_ref = | range = | borders_on = | grid_ref_UK = | grid_ref_UK_ref = | grid_ref_Ireland = | grid_ref_Ireland_ref = | topo_maker = | topo_map = | biome =  | formed_by = | orogeny = | age = | type = | geology = | volcanic_zone = | last_eruption =  | first_ascent = | easiest_route = | normal_route = | access =  | embedded = | module = }}

The '''Atlantika Mountains''', also known as the '''Alantika Mountains''', are an extension of the Cameroon line of volcanic mountains, spanning the border between Nigeria and Cameroon. They lie to the southeast of Yola, the capital of Adamawa State in Nigeria, and southwest of the Mandara mountains. In Cameroon, they are part of the North Region. They are north of the Adamawa Plateau and west of the Faro National Park in Cameroon.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conservation.uni-goettingen.de/breuer_2005.pdf |title=Diet choice of large carnivores in northern Cameroon |author=Thomas Breuer |accessdate=2011-02-05 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719103056/http://www.conservation.uni-goettingen.de/breuer_2005.pdf |archivedate=2011-07-19 }}</ref> The massif rises to about {{convert|1,300|m|ft}} above the Faro River, a tributary of the Benue River.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XXkAhSzJw-wC&pg=PA136 |page=136 |title=Major Soil Classification Systems Used in the Tropics:: Soils of Cameroon |author=Bernard P.K. Yerima, E. Van Ranst |publisher=Trafford Publishing |year=2005 |ISBN=1-4120-5789-2}}</ref> The range includes a belt of volcanoes, most of which are inactive.<ref>{{cite book |page=[https://archive.org/details/camerooninpictur00hath/page/13 13] |title=Cameroon in Pictures |url=https://archive.org/details/camerooninpictur00hath |url-access=registration |author=Jim Hathaway |publisher=Lerner Publications Co. |year=1989 |ISBN=0-8225-1857-0}}</ref> The mountains' landscape includes outcrops of large granite boulders.<ref name = Bauer>Bauer, A. M., Chirio, L., Ineich, I., & LeBreton, M. (2006). New Species of Cnemaspis (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Northern Cameroon, a Neglected Biodiversity Hotspot. ''Journal of Herpetology'', 40(4), 510–519. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4498534</ref>

The Atlantika Mountains are home to enclaves of higher-elevation Afromontane habitat, part of the Cameroonian Highlands forests ecoregion. The mountains are separated from other Afromontane regions by lower-elevation areas. Afromontane habitats include gallery forests along mountain stream courses. The gecko species ''Ancylodactylus alantika'' is found only in the Atlantika Mountains and the Hosséré Vokré plateau to the east.<ref name = Bauer/>

The line of mountains of which the Atlantika range is a part were taken as a natural boundary between Nigeria and Cameroon by the colonial powers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/94/4978.pdf?PHPSESSID=0f17a5bd435e546aea52a0d3d0743e1b |title=..in the case concerning the Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria |publisher=International Court of Justice |date=18 February 2002 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The Koma people took refuge in the mountains in the last half of the 19th century, apparently to avoid paying taxes to the colonial government. They remained unnoticed until 1980, when they were found by an Indian schoolteacher who was working for the government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/11713.htm |title=Update from HCJB World Radio: NIGERIAN MINISTRY MARKS 20 YEARS OF OUTREACH AMONG PRIMITIVE TRIBE |author=ROWLAND CROUCHER AND OTHERS |date=December 11, 2003 |publisher=John Mark Ministries |accessdate=2011-02-05}}</ref>

Alantika means where ''Allah hasn't yet arrived'' in the Kanuri language, due to the Koma people keeping their own religions, despite being mostly surrounded by Muslims.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alantika Mountains |url=http://www.alantikamountains.com/ |accessdate=27 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626121426/http://www.alantikamountains.com/ |archivedate=26 June 2012 }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Mountain ranges of Cameroon Category:Mountain ranges of Nigeria Category:Cameroonian Highlands forests Category:Adamawa State