The Cameroon VolcanicLine, Cameroon :landscape, natural

hazard and human life

J.M. Bardintzeff, P. Wandji, D. Nkouathio, Z. Itiga, P. Wotchoko, D. Tchokona Seuwui, A. KagouDongmo, R. Temdjim, A. Moundi, P.J. ChakamTagheu, J.P.F. Tsakack, O.F. Mouncherou, A. Tiabou Feudjio, B. Ntieche, L.A. Ziem a Bidas

• (1) Univ Paris-Sud, Laboratoire de Pétrographie-Volcanologie and équipe Planétologie, UMR IDES 8148, Bât. 504, F-91405 Orsay, France

• jacques-marie.bardintzeff@u-psud.fr• (2) Univ Cergy-Pontoise, IUFM, F-95000 Cergy-Pontoise,

France• (3) Laboratoire de Géologie, Ecole Normale Supérieure,

Univ Yaoundé I, BP 47, Yaounde, Cameroon• (4) Département des Sciences de la Terre, Faculté des

Sciences, Univ Dschang, BP 67, Dschang, Cameroon• (5) Institute for Geological and Mining Research (IRGM),

Branch of Geophysics and Volcanologic Research (ARGV), PO Box 4110, Yaounde, Cameroon

• (6) Département de Géologie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Univ Bamenda, BP 39 Bamenda, Cameroon

• (7) Département des Sciences de la Terre, Faculté des Sciences, Univ Yaoundé, BP 812 Yaounde, Cameroon

• (8) Institute for Geological and Mining Research (IRGM), Centre de Recherche Hydrologique du Cameroun, PO Box 4110, Nlongkak, Yaounde, Cameroon

The Cameroon Volcanic Line

Several volcanic types coexist :

* Stratovolcano* Monogenic strombolian cone* Maar* Dome

Active volcanoes

(i) Mount Cameroonthat last erupted in 1999 and 2000

(ii) Lake Nyosthat emitted toxic carbon dioxide gas in 1986, killing 1746 people

(iii) Lake Monounthat killed 37 people in 1984 in the same way

Kusakabe M.

Natural risks

* Lava flow* Bomb and ash fall* Lahar* Instability* Gas* Earthquake* Tidal risk

Positive aspects of volcanoes

Lake : drinking water, fishing

Volcanic soils are very fertile

Pouzzolanes are used as fertilizer and cement

Today, geotourism and ecotourism, which provide income for guides and the local population, are only developed on a local level

Some places are becoming famous such as :

(i) Lake Petponoun, volcanic dam lakes near Foumbot (Noun Plain) :swimming, boating, golf, volley-ball

(ii) Lake Ngaoundaba (maar) :swimming and boating.

Mount Cameroon Race of Hope

journalducameroun.comcamer.be

In the future, volcanic areas should be protected, preserved, and possibly managed in great respect of the environment.

Nice landscape of rocks and vegetations (savannas, meadows and forest galleries) under a pleasant equatorial climate would be visited by tourists.

Promoting tourism would contribute to the economic and socio-cultural development of the country.