The ruwenzori are a lofty mountain range lying just to the north of the Equator on the borders of Uganda and the Congo. The mountains, standing in the western arm of the East African rift valley, are 60-70 miles long and have a maxi? mum breadth of about 30 miles (Fig. 1). Unlike the other snow peaks of East Africa, the range is not of volcanic origin but is a gigantic uplifted horst-like block of pre-Cambrian rocks, and its formation is connected with the complex tectonics of the rift valley. Fracturing of the rift began initially in pre-Cambrian times and there has been subsequent movement along the same zones of weakness at various times ever since. Nevertheless, the most important movements, from the point of view of present landforms, have taken place since the early Tertiary, and particularly during Quaternary times (Dixey, 1956). Although the relative ages and the stratigraphical succession of the rock forma? tions have not been fully worked out, an important outline of the geology has been produced by McConnell (1959). He recognized three main groups of pre-Cambrian rocks, termed the West Nile group (Basement Complex), the Ruwenzori group (Nyanzian-Kavirondian) and the Karagwe-Ankolean group (Fig. 2). The most extensive of the rocks in the central area is the Speke gneiss which forms virtually the core of the range. It includes three major peaks, Mount Speke, Mount Emin and Mount Gessi, and weathers into characteristically rounded and rugged cliffs. Overlying and folded into the Speke gneiss are a number of bands of mica-schist, the most important of which, from the topographic viewpoint, are the Stuhlmann Pass Series which form a narrow band between the Speke gneiss and the Stanley volcanics; crossing the central range from east to west it has been picked out by the Lamia, upper Bujuku and Lusilubi rivers. The Stanley Volcanic Series form the most rugged scenery of all; the highly contorted amphibolites, calc-schists and quartzites have weathered into the high pinnacles of Mount Stanley itself and also form the spectacular cliffs of Mount Baker and the Portal Peaks. The belt of the Stanley volcanics dips southwards where it is enveloped by the Freshfield PassButahu Series of muscoviteand cordierite-schists. Like the Stuhlmann Pass

Landform

10.2307/1793050

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Citations (10)

Geology and Scenery in Scotland

Geographical Journal (1978)

J. A. Steers John B. Whittow

10.2307/634660

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Citations (24)

Environmental concerns

Progress in Human Geography (1988)

John B. Whittow

10.1177/030913258801200308

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Citations (2)

Some Observations on the Snowfall of Ruwenzori

Journal of Glaciology (1960)

John B. Whittow

Abstract The seasonal precipitation of Ruwenzori is examined and the height of the climatic snowline determined. Two distinct periods of surplus accumulation and two ablation seasons can be recognized and give rise to a somewhat complex stratification. Precipitation diminishes with altitude above about 10,000 feet (3,050 m.). The water equivalent of the annual accumulation on the highest peak is thought to lie between 25 and 30 inches (635–762 mm.). Twelve months’ synoptic charts have been analysed and an attempt is made to relate the seasonal variations of accumulation and ablation to the meteorological factors accompanying the oscillations of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone.

Stratification (seeds)

Snow line

10.3189/s0022143000018074

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Citations (3)

The Wallingford fan gravel

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences (1981)

Andrew J. Horton B.C. Worssam John B. Whittow

The mapping of the Fan Gravel area was the work of A. W. Kemp and S. R. Mills. B. C. Worssam and A. Horton recorded sections in the gravel and contributed many additional observations between 1973 and 1979, during the latter part of this period in conjunction with J. B. Whittow, who had independently kept the gravel workings under observation for a number of years. In 1977 a summary of the authors’ conclusions to date was published in an excursion guide for the Tenth INQUA Congress, held at Birmingham (Horton & Whittow I977).

Excursion

Conjunction (astronomy)

10.1098/rstb.1981.0075

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Citations (7)

Volcanic hazards

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Natural Landscapes of Britain from the Air

Geographical Journal (1991)

John B. Whittow Nicholas Stephens

Using the aerial camera to reveal the natural forces that have moulded the landscape around us, this book launches a three part geography of Britain from the air. Companion volumes on the man-made landscape and on environmental pressures in modern Britain are in preparation.

10.2307/635297

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Citations (9)