{{short description|Mountain range in Tanga Region of Tanzania}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Nguu Mountains | other_name = {{native phrase|sw|Milima ya Nguu}} | image = | image_size = | image_caption = | highest = | elevation_m = 1,550 | range_coordinates = {{coord|06|10|S|37|30|E|display=inline, title|region:TZ_type:mountain}} | parent = Eastern Arc Mountains | coordinates_ref = | country = {{Flag|Tanzania}} | subdivision2 = Tanga Region | subdivision3 = Kilindi District | length_mi = | width_mi = | length_orientation = north-south | geology = | map = | map_size = | map_caption = }} The '''Nguu Mountains''' also known as '''Nguru Mountains''' or '''Ngulu Mountains''' (''Milima ya Nguu'' in Swahili) are a mountain range in eastern Tanzania. The mountains are administratively located in the Tanga Region, specifically in the Kilindi District. The mountains are named for the Ngulu people. The Nguu Mountains are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains. The mountains are covered in woodland, grassland, and forest.<ref>Bushesha, Magreth S., and Peter Mjata. "Potentials of the forest resources in adaptation to climate variability and change in the North Nguu Mountain Block." Environmental Protection and Policy 4.6 (2017): 178-186.</ref>
==Geography== The Nguu Mountains are a dissected range covering area of 1591 km<sup>2</sup>.<ref>N. D. Burgess ''et al''. (2007). "The biological importance of the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and Kenya". ''Biological Conservation'' 134 (2007) pp. 209–231.</ref> The highest elevation is 1550 meters.<ref>"Nguu". Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Fund. Accessed 20 September 2019. [http://www.easternarc.or.tz/mountain-blocks/nguu/index.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804113555/http://www.easternarc.or.tz/mountain-blocks/nguu/index.html |date=2020-08-04 }}</ref> The range lies in the watershed of the Wami River and its tributaries. The Nguru Mountains lie to the south, across an expanse of hilly country. The Maasai Steppe lies to the north and west.
==Climate== The Nguru mountains intercept moisture-laden winds from the Indian Ocean, which provide most of the rainfall in the mountains. Most of the rainfall occurs in the November-to-May wet season, although mist and light rain occur at higher elevations during the dry season months. Rainfall is higher on the southern and eastern slopes, and lower in the mountains' rain shadow to the north and west. Temperatures are cooler and rainfall is higher at higher elevations.<ref>"Eastern Arc forests". ''World Wildlife Fund'' ecoregion profile. Accessed 10 September 2019. [https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/at0109]</ref>
==Geology== The Nguu Mountains, along with the others in the Eastern Arc, are made up of ancient crystalline Precambrian rocks that were uplifted over millions of years along fault lines. The most recent period of uplift started 30 million years ago, but the fault system and uplift process may be far older. Soils derived from these ancient rocks are not as fertile as the younger volcanic soils of mountains to the north and west.<ref>"Eastern Arc forests". ''World Wildlife Fund'' ecoregion profile. Accessed 10 September 2019. [https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/at0109]</ref>
==Flora and fauna== About thirty million years ago, the area was covered by extensive rainforest. During a cooler and drier period some ten million years ago, the lowland forests were converted to savanna, leaving the mountain ranges as "islands" where the tropical forests continued to flourish. The long-term persistence of a humid climate and the isolation of each mountain range has led to a great deal of endemism, and a very diverse flora and fauna.<ref name=Briggs>{{cite book|author=Briggs, Philip |title=Northern Tanzania: The Bradt Safari Guide with Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DDf1ZMyQCIAC&pg=PA20 |year=2009 |publisher=Bradt Travel Guides |isbn=978-1-84162-292-7 |pages=20–21}}</ref> The Nguu and other Eastern Arc mountains have extremely high biodiversity with numerous endemic species (more than 25 percent of the vertebrate species).<ref>Newmark, W. D., 2002, Conserving Biodiversity in East African Forests, a Study of the Eastern Arc Mountains. Ecological Studies 155. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 197</ref>
The Nguu mountains mark the northernmost extent of the Eastern miombo woodlands. Drier Northern Acacia–Commiphora bushlands and thickets lie to the north and west. The mountains support enclaves of forest, mostly between 1000 and 1550 meters elevation. The forests vary in species composition with elevation and the direction of the slope.<ref>N. D. Burgess ''et al''. (2007). "The biological importance of the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and Kenya". ''Biological Conservation'' 134 (2007) pp. 209–231</ref> Pockets of lowland forest are found below 1000 meters elevation in the eastern portion of the mountains, although many have been cleared for cultivation.<ref>"Nguu". Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Fund. Accessed 20 September 2019. [http://www.easternarc.or.tz/mountain-blocks/nguu/index.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804113555/http://www.easternarc.or.tz/mountain-blocks/nguu/index.html |date=2020-08-04 }}</ref> They have a flora similar to the humid Zanzibar–Inhambane coastal forests further east, with ''Milicia excelsa'' and ''Khaya anthotheca'' as dominant trees.<ref>N. D. Burgess ''et al''. (2007). "The biological importance of the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and Kenya". ''Biological Conservation'' 134 (2007) pp. 209–231</ref><ref>"Nguu". Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Fund. Accessed 20 September 2019. [http://www.easternarc.or.tz/mountain-blocks/nguu/index.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804113555/http://www.easternarc.or.tz/mountain-blocks/nguu/index.html |date=2020-08-04 }}</ref>
The forests from 1000 to 1500 meters elevation are principally evergreen submontane forests, with characteristic Afromontane species. ''Newtonia buchananii'' is the dominant tree, with ''Albizia gummifera'' and other species.<ref>"Nguu". Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Fund. Accessed 20 September 2019. [http://www.easternarc.or.tz/mountain-blocks/nguu/index.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804113555/http://www.easternarc.or.tz/mountain-blocks/nguu/index.html |date=2020-08-04 }}</ref> An analysis of satellite images taken between 1999 and 2003 found 188 km<sup>2</sup> of the mountains were still covered in evergreen forest.<ref>N. D. Burgess ''et al''. (2007). "The biological importance of the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and Kenya". ''Biological Conservation'' 134 (2007) pp. 209–231</ref>
==Protected areas and conservation== The mountains have several Catchment Forest Reserves which preserve lowland and submontane forests: Derema CFR (3,928 ha), Kilindi CFR (4,299 ha), Kwediboma CFR (285 ha), Mbwegere CFR (368 ha), Mkongo CFR (985 ha), Mkuli CFR (2,931 ha), Nguru North CFR (14,042 ha), Pumila CFR (1,062 ha) and Rudewa CFR (556 ha).<ref>BirdLife International (2019) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Nguu Mountains. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/09/2019.</ref>
==References== {{reflist}} {{Tanga}} Category:Eastern Arc forests Category:Eastern Arc Mountains Category:Eastern miombo woodlands Category:Geography of Tanga Region Category:Mountain ranges of Tanzania Category:Important Bird Areas of Tanzania