This essay will with specific examples and illustration explain the social, economic, and

environmental significance of vulcanicity to Africa. The definition of vulcanicity will be given

and lastly a conclusion will be drawn.Nsama, (2015) defined vulcanicity as the geomorphic
process that include the formation of both the internal and external landforms.

Socially, vulcanicity bring people from different areas from tourist to people who comes and
settle in the areas such as volcanic lake mineral rich areas which as being exposed by vulcanism
in search of employment. The coming together of people facilitates the sharing of ideas among
people from different background and ethnicity (Leong, 1983).Volcanic mountains
havefavourable climaticconditions for agriculture attheir slopes andsurrounding areas.
Volcanicity results to beautiful scenic landscapes which are tourist attractions Kenya
highland. Volcanic mountains are catchment areas hencesources of rivers and springs. Volcanic
mountains are thickly forested at self-conserving habitats for various for life (Nsama, (2015).

Economically, volcanic mountains results in the formation of richminerals for instance

Diamond in Shinyanga Tar and Kimberly in South Africa, Copper at Ki1 in Uganda and
gold on the edge of batholith Kakamega and Macalder. This facilitates the growth of mining
activities in areas were the vulcanism takes place which in turn brings about employment for the
local people in the mines developed around those areas (Leong, 1983).

Furthermore, according to Burnett, (1984) Hot springs and geysers are used to
generategeothermal power which boost the economy of a country by providing power as well as
export it to the neighbouring countries hence having foreign exchange. In addition, in the power
stations resulting from the geothermal power also provide employment opportunities to the local
people hence boosting the economy of the country as well as Africa at large. The power
generated help in both the domestic and industries.

Volcanic rocks produce valuable buildingstone used in construction. Crater lakes provide water
for domestic use, Fishing is carried out in some crater lake for instance in lake Katwe in
western Uganda which doesn’t only provide employment but also as the source of proteins.
Mining is carried out in some crater lake salt is mined at Lake Katwe in Uganda Hot
springs and pools of hot water are used bysome people for medicinal purposes, these
people they bathe in the hot water, then they are healed of various ailments (Steve,
Ferdinanda and Koko, 2000)

Economically, vulcanicity exposes precious mineral such as gold near or at the surface making it
easy for mining activities to take place.Burnett, (1984) posited thatvolcanic mountains such as

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mount Kilimanjaro attracts tourists from locally as well as internationally which attracts foreign
exchange to the country Tanzania as well as Africa at large. Calderas and lava dammed lakes
provide fishing activities hence provide employment for local people in the areas were these
features are found. Volcanic features such batholith; volcanic mountains are good source of
quarry mining which provide stones for construction.

Coming to agriculture, volcanic mountains have conducive and favourable climatic condition for
agriculture as well as the forest development for instance; Kenya highlands have conducive
climatic condition for tea growing as well as other crops which boost the country’s economy.
Good climatic condition also encourages the development of tourism in Kenya which has
become one of government’s economic pillars (Leong, 1983)

Environmentally, vulcanism can change the physical landscape of an area such as the creation of
volcanic mountains which can be the source of streams as well as the expose of mineral suitable
for forest growth can change the face of an area (Steve, Ferdinanda and Koko, 2000).Volcanic
featuressuch as lakes become the habitants for animals and fish which provides food and security
to the animals.

To conclude, vulcanism brings people from different areas in search for employment in mines,
fishing in the volcanic lake as well as for agricultural activities making new communities and
allowing the sharing of ideas among people. It also facilitates the intermarriages among people in
these localities. Economically, vulcanism helps in formation of valuable minerals that bring
foreign exchange and employment in the mines in these localities with minerals from vulcanism.
In addition, vulcanicity leads to formation of geysers which are sources of geothermal electricity
which help in domestic and industrial use. Environmentally, volcanic mountains have favourable
climatic conditions that support the growth of crops, vegetation as well as support the diverse
species.

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 REFERENCES

Burnett, R.B. (1984) Physical Geography in Diagram for Africa,

Leong, G.C. (1983) Certificate Physical and HumanGeography

Nsama, G. (2015). Senior secondary geography course for Zambia: learner’s book grade 10. Mk

Publishers: Lusaka.

Steve w, Ferdinanda, G and Koko, O. (2000). Golden tips geography. Nairobi. Macmillan

Publishers.