MAJOR ROCK TYPES IN HIGHLANDS
1. North central plateau, Western highlands/uplands, Mandara Mountain, Sheshi, Alantika, Obudu and Oban hill.
2. Jos plateau
3. Udi Hill
IMPORTANCE OF HIGHLANDS
1. Sources of minerals
2. They serve as tourist centres/attractions
3. They serves as source of rivers e.g. River Hadeijia, River Kaduna, River Gana, River Gurara take their source from North – central highlands
4. Some of them are good for settlement e.g. Jos Plateau
5. For construction of hydro-electric power e.g. Kanji Dam
6. They serve as wind breakers. Some mountains, as a result
7. Formation of rain
8. For transhumance
PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHLANDS
1. They prevent human habitation
2. Barrier to communication
3. Highlands encourages soil erosion
4. Mountains soil are poor in nutrients
5. Mountains atimes occupy good lands.
DRAINAGE OF NIGERIA
Drainage can be simply referred to as the water bodies like rivers and lakes
a. RIVERS IN NIGERIA: Nigeria is drained by two main rivers; River Niger and River Benue.
River Niger, is the largest river in Nigeria which takes its source from Guinea highland or Futa jallon highland in Guinea. River Niger passes through Mali and Niger Republic of Nigeria.
River Benue, has its source from eastern hihglands and joins the Niger at Lokoja. This makes Lokoja to be referred to as a confluence town.
b. OTHER RIVERS: Other rivers in Nigeria, takes their sources from highlands in Nigeria. These are:
1. North – Central Highlands: The North – central highland have such rivers as Kaduna, Hadeija, Zamfara, Yobe, Ghana, Gongola and Rima.
2. Western Uplands/Highlands: They have rivers such as Ogun River, River Osun and River Osse which flows directly into the Atlantic Ocean.
3. Eastern Highlands: The eastern highlands have rivers like Donga and Katina – Ala.
4. Eastern Scarplands: The eastern scarplands have river like River Anambra and Cross Rivers.
Characteristics of Nigeria Rivers
1. The volume of the rivers changes with season i.e. during rainy seasons, the volume of the water increased and it decreases during dry seasons.
2. Presence of rapids and cataracts: Most Nigerian rivers have rapids and cataracts which hinders or disturbs in land navigation or transportation by water.
3. Presence of debrils: Most Nigeria rivers do carry a lot of debril along with itself like dead leaves mud, wood etc when they flow through the forest.
4. Shallowness: Most rivers are very shallow and full of silt.
5. Seasonality: Most Nigerian rivers flow during rainy season but stop or reduce flowing dry season.
6. Colour changes with season: The rivers have muddy and dirty colour during rainy season but remain dear and clean during dry season.
7. Specific direction of flow: Most Nigeria rivers in the south flows in the North – South direction into the sea while rivers in the North flows in a radiant pattern.
8. Short course with high speed: Most Nigerian rivers are very short and flow rapidly e.g. Ogun, Osun and Cross River.
IMPORTANCE OF NIGERIA RIVERS
(i) Means of transportation
(ii) They serve as source of food supply
(iii) Generation of Hydro electric power (HEP) e.g. Kanji dam and Shiroroda
(iv) They are good for domestic use e.g. cocking, bathing and washing
(v) Provision of employment e.g. serve as revenue generation of fishermen
(vi) They can be used for irrigation purposes
(vii) For tourism
(viii) For sports and game.
Problems Encountered in the Utilization (Uses of Nigerian Rivers)
1. Season fluctuation of the water volume
2. Rapids and fall of the rivers
3. River pollution / water pollution
4. Shortness of the rivers
5. Silting at the mouth of the river
6. Narrow channels.
RIVER BASINS
River basins simply refers to the area generally drained or levelled by a river and its main tributaries. In Nigeria, there are five main river basins:
(i) The Niger basin
(ii) The Benue basin
(iii) The Cross River basin
(iv) The South – Atlantic basin
The river basins can be classified into three:
1. Large basins with long rivers: These are rivers that flow over a long distance and empty their water into the Atlantic Ocean e.g. River Benue and River Niger.
2. Short river basin with small basin: These are rivers that flow from a short distance before emptying their water into a larger body such as River Osun, River Ogun, River Osse and River Ossiomo
3. Rivers in basin of Inland drainage: The rivers that exist in this area do not have access into the Atlantic Ocean but flow into lake Chad. Examples are River Hadeija, River Kamadugu, River Gana, River Yediseram, River Katogun etc.
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF RIVER BASINS
1. River basins provides good sites for settlement
2. River basins provides medium of communication transports from one place to another.
3. River basins provides both domestic and industrial water supply
4. River basins usually provide good fishing ground for its inhabitants
5. River basins are usually suitable for agricultural purposes
6. River basins provide a lot of mineral deposits.
LAKES
A lake can be defined as a body of water surrounded by land. Lakes in Nigeria can be grouped into the main bodies:
1. Artificial or Man-made Lake: This type referred to as artificial lakes are constructed by man as a result of improving in science and technology for this reasons:
• Irrigation (Agriculture)
• Hydro – electric power generation
Examples are the Kanji lake along River Niger and the Shiroro lake along River Kaduna.
2. Natural Lakes: These are lakes that exist naturally without man having anything to do with them. For example Lake Chad – often referred to as an inland drainage because several rivers flow into it without getting out.
IMPORTANCE OF LAKE
(i) For employment
(ii) For irrigation
(iii) Provision of food
(iv) Tourism
(v) Industrial and domestic purposes
(vi) For transportation
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