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Plateau State

geography Maturity 9-11 Next article →

Plateau State is a special part of Nigeria.

Kerang highlands
Kerang highlands

It sits in the North Central zone of the country. The capital city is called Jos. People often call this place the "Home of Peace and Tourism." About 4.7 million people live in the state.

Terminus market traffic
Terminus market traffic

The land is filled with hills and many rock formations. These rocks are part of the Jos Plateau. You can see bare rocks scattered across green grasslands. The high ground makes the area feel different from other places nearby.

The weather here is quite interesting because of the high altitude. Even though it is in a tropical zone, the air stays cool. The average temperature is between 13 and 22 degrees Celsius.

Kahwhang Basalt Rock Formation Riyom Plateau State
Kahwhang Basalt Rock Formation Riyom Plateau State

Between December and February, the Harmattan winds bring the coldest weather. The warmest months are usually March and April during the dry season. In July and August, the state sees its highest rainfall. This cooler climate even helps to reduce some tropical diseases like malaria.

Long ago, the earth changed this landscape in big ways. About 160 million years ago, younger granite rocks moved through older granite.

Kahwhang Basalt Rock Formation Riyom Plateau State
Kahwhang Basalt Rock Formation Riyom Plateau State

This created hills that look like mushrooms with huge boulders. Then, about 50 million years ago, volcanic activity happened. This made many volcanoes and flat areas made of lava. It also created deep valleys and smooth surfaces from erosion. These old changes made the scenery look very unusual today.

There are many amazing things to see in Plateau State.

Elephant at Jos, WildLife Park
Elephant at Jos, WildLife Park

You can visit the Jos Zoo to see birds and reptiles. The National Museum in Jos has very old pottery called Nok terracotta.

Wildlife Park Jos, Plateau Entrance
Wildlife Park Jos, Plateau Entrance

Some of these items are from 500 BC. You can also see Wase Rock, which is 450 meters high. This rock is a safe place for white pelicans to breed.

View from inside Solomon Lar Amusement Park
View from inside Solomon Lar Amusement Park

Other people enjoy walking in the Shere Hills near Jos.

Many different groups of people call this state home. There are over forty different language groups living here. Most of these people are farmers.

Many people have moved here from other parts of Nigeria. They speak many different languages, but English is the official language. People also use Hausa to talk and do business. The state is divided into 17 local government areas to help manage the land.

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🖼️ Images & Media (8)
File:Terminus market traffic.jpg
Terminus market traffic.jpg
File:Wildlife_Park_Jos,_Plateau_Entrance.jpg
Wildlife_Park_Jos,_Plateau_Entrance.jpg
File:Elephant_at_Jos,_WildLife_Park.jpg
Elephant_at_Jos,_WildLife_Park.jpg
File:View_from_inside_Solomon_Lar_Amusement_Park.jpg
View_from_inside_Solomon_Lar_Amusement_Park.jpg
File:Kerang highlands.jpg
Kerang highlands.jpg
File:Kahwhang Basalt Rock Formation Riyom Plateau State.jpg
Kahwhang Basalt Rock Formation Riyom...
File:Topaz-169707.jpg
Topaz-169707.jpg
File:Male figure, Montol People, Nigeria, early 20th century CE. These figures were used by men's societies in healing rituals. Sculpture. National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.jpg
Male figure, Montol People, Nigeria,...
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