Cameroon line, South West Region Travel Guide

The Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL) is a remarkable geological feature, a chain of volcanoes stretching approximately 1,600 kilometers from Annobón Island in the Atlantic Ocean northeastward through Cameroon. This line acts as a natural border between eastern Nigeria and the western region of Cameroon. The CVL is unique because it extends across both oceanic and continental crust.The CVL's volcanic activity began roughly 38 million years ago and continues today. The islands along the CVL boast tropical climates and are home to diverse plant and bird species. The continental portion features volcanic swells such as Manengouba, Bamboutu, and the Oku Massif. The islands of Annobón, São Tomé, Príncipe, and Bioko comprise the oceanic section.The CVL volcanoes have a range of compositions, from picro-basalt and basalt to phonolite and rhyolite. One notable event in the CVL's history is the 1986 Lake Nyos disaster, where a release of carbon dioxide gas from the lake, a crater lake in the Oku volcanic plain, led to over 1,200 fatalities.