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Adamawa State

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Adamawa is a large state in the North-East part of Nigeria.

Mandara Mountains from Yola
Mandara Mountains from Yola

It covers about 36,917 square kilometers of land. The state sits near several other Nigerian states. Borno is to the northwest, Gombe is to the west, and Taraba is to the southwest. To the east, the state forms a national border with the country of Cameroon. The capital city is Yola, which was also the old capital of the historic Adamawa emirate.

Hausa from Yola-1902
Hausa from Yola-1902

The land in Adamawa is very varied and interesting to look at. Most of the state is made of high mountains and hills. These include the Mandara, Shebshi, and Atlantika ranges.

Mandara Mountains from Yola
Mandara Mountains from Yola

Deep valleys are cut through the land by big rivers. The Benue and Gongola rivers are the most important ones. In the south, the land is wetter and has many forests. You can find the Gashaka Gumti National Park there. This park is home to animals like hippos, leopards, and chimpanzees.

Adamawa state contingent 1
Adamawa state contingent 1

Adamawa has a long and busy history. It was once a kingdom called the Adamawa Emirate. A leader named Modibo Adama founded this kingdom in the early 1800s. He moved his capital several times before settling in Yola in 1841. Later, different groups from Europe, like Germany and Britain, ruled parts of the area. After many years and changes, the state we know today was officially formed in 1991. It was created when the old Gongola State was split into two parts.

Many different kinds of people live in Adamawa. There are more than 100 different ethnic groups living there. Some groups, like the Fulani, often move around to herd cattle. The state is also home to many different religions. About 50% of the people are Sunni Muslim and 40% are Christian. Many people work in farming to support their families. They grow crops like cotton, yams, millet, and groundnuts.

Hausa from Yola-1902
Hausa from Yola-1902

They also raise about 2.5 million cattle. Large markets, like the one in Mubi, help people trade these animals.

Nature and weather also play a big role in life here. Adamawa has a wet season from April to October. It has a dry season that lasts for five months. Sometimes, the heavy rains cause the rivers to overflow. This can lead to big floods that cover farms and homes.

Flooded sunrise in Yola
Flooded sunrise in Yola

These floods can be very difficult for the people living near the water. However, the state is also rich in minerals like limestone and kaoline. These natural resources are important parts of the land's story.

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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Hausa from Yola-1902.jpg
Hausa from Yola-1902.jpg
File:Adamawa state contingent 1.jpg
Adamawa state contingent 1.jpg
File:Flooded sunrise in Yola.jpg
Flooded sunrise in Yola.jpg
File:Mandara Mountains from Yola.jpg
Mandara Mountains from Yola.jpg
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