Discuss the characteristics of either the Western Highlands or the North Central Highlands of Nigeria under tile following headings; (a) Relief (b) Drainage...

The answer below describes the North Central Highlands (the Jos Plateau and its surroundings) of Nigeria under the required headings.

(a) Relief

• A high, dissected plateau standing generally between 1,200 m and over 1,800 m above sea level, rising steeply above the surrounding plains through a bounding escarpment.
• The surface is broken by isolated volcanic hills and cones, extinct crater lakes and old lava flows.
• Younger granite masses and inselbergs project above a rolling, undulating upland surface.

(b) Drainage

• The plateau is an important water tower and source region for many rivers, which radiate outward from it.
• Rivers such as the Kaduna, Gongola and headstreams draining to the Benue and to the Niger rise here.
• Streams are fast-flowing with rapids and waterfalls (for example Assop Falls) where they descend the escarpment, giving hydro-power potential.

(c) Soils

• Soils are largely derived from weathered granite and from basaltic (volcanic) material.
• Where formed on lava the soils are dark, deep and comparatively fertile; elsewhere they are shallow, gravelly and leached.
• Extensive tin-mining has disturbed and degraded soils in worked-over areas.

(d) Vegetation

• Cooler, higher rainfall on the plateau supports montane grassland with scattered short trees and shrubs.
• The lower slopes and surroundings carry Guinea savanna woodland.
• Gallery (fringing) forest lines the river valleys.

(e) Human activities

• Mining: the plateau is Nigeria's chief source of tin and columbite.
• Farming: the cool climate favours temperate crops (Irish potatoes, vegetables, wheat) and cereals such as acha, plus livestock rearing on the grasslands.
• Settlement and administration: Jos is the main urban centre.
• Tourism and health resort: the pleasant, cool climate attracts tourists and once served as a rest station.
• Power generation and dairy/ranching: streams and grasslands support hydro-power and cattle rearing.