Ngorongoro Lengai UNESCO Global Geoparks It is the only protected area in Sub-Saharan Africa with internationally significant geological features, and which opens its doors to tourism, conservation, education, and research concerning not just geology but other relevant sciences. Needless to say, this is the only site where tourists from around the world may completely appreciate natural beauty while also learning and conducting research in different fields.
The Geopark covers an area of nearly 12,000 sq km (4,634 sq miles) and has a resident population of around 250,000 people, most of whom belong to the Maasai Tribe. The Geopark is located on the eastern branch of the East African Rift System, a great “rupture” in the earth’s crust where Eastern Africa is pulling away from the African mainland
In addition to a geologic history that goes back hundreds of millions of years, more recent earthquake and volcanic activity has produced a landscape that is characterized by towering fault scarps, huge volcanic craters, lush highland forests, grasslands, rivers and lakes.
The Geopark also contains large areas that are located in the rain shadows of the volcanic highlands. These areas are dry and sparsely vegetated, except during the two rainy seasons, which run from October to November and March to May.
The Ngorongoro Lengai Geopark is located mainly within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), a World Heritage Site and Man and Biosphere Reserve. The NCA was created in 1959 from the southeastern part of Serengeti National Park. It was specifically designated as a multi-use land area with wildlife co-existing with Maasai Tribe pastoralists and other indigenous peoples.
The Geopark is roughly bordered on the north by Loliondo Game Controlled Area (CA) and Lake Natron Basin (Ramsar Site) and on the northwest by Serengeti National Park, a World Heritage Site. It is bordered on the east by Mto wa Mbu and Lake Natron Game Controlled Area (GCA). On the south by Lake Manyara, World Heritage Site, and to the south by Lake Eyasi, and on West by Maswa Game Reserve. Many of the Geopark’s diverse areas are located close to established safari routes in Tanzania.
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