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Slide 22: The Western Rift Valley escarpment north of Rutshuru as seen from within the Virunga National Park of DR Congo (Zaire).  Note the drier savanna grasslands in the graben bottom where less rainfall occurs; this is an example of a rainshadow zone.  In contrast, note heavy storm clouds forming over the mountains due to orographic lift.   See also the precipitation (isohyet)map of the Central African Highlands. 
Image credit: photo by Robert E. Ford, Westminster College of Salt Lake City, Utah 
 

Created 12 February 1998. Last updated 30 April 1998  by JDH.