The Ngorongoro Crater as the biggest geotouristic attraction of the Gregory Rift (Northern Tanzania, Africa) - geographical setting

Abstract

The caldera of an extinct Ngorongoro volcano is the largest unflooded and not destroyed type of this form on Earth. The depression itself occupies an area of nearly 300 km2, while the Crater -walls tower afew hundred metres (400--610 m) above the floor of the caldera. Almost all typicalforEast Africaplants and animals, as -well as rare, endemic and often endangered species can observed in the crater. The -unique richness and diversity of natural -world of the Xgorongoro Crater is caused exceptionally by favourable weather and hydrological conditions. These factors depend on local conditions, associated -with significant relief of this area. Probably, the most important is the richness of the Cgorongoro Crater in -water. There occur springs, perennial and seasonal rivers, marshes, swamps, as -well as reservoirs of fresh and sally -water. Essential is also the presence of the local autochthonous population of theMaasai people, -which raises the attractiveness of that localization adding so important cultural values. Due to its -unique natural and touristic -values, the Cgorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) has been established in 1959. The area was also included into the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. This paper presents only the geographical setting of the Ngorongoro Crater, which should be understood as its morphology, hydrological and climatic conditions, -wildlife and indigenous localpeople.