Geography
Fouta Djallonke consists mainly of rolling grasslands, at an average elevation of about 900m (3,000 ft). The highest point, Mount Loura, rises to 1,515m (4,970 ft). The plateau consists of thick sandstone formations which overlie granitic basement rock. Erosion by rain and rivers has carved deep jungle canyons and valleys into the sandstone.The word Djallonke originated from the people who originally occupied highlands of Guinea, commonly known as Susu. Djallonke and Susu are interchangeable.
It receives a great deal of rainfall, and the headwaters of three major rivers, the Niger River, the Gambia River and the Senegal River, have their sources on it. It is thus sometimes called the watertower (chateau d'eau in French literature) of West Africa. Some authors also refer to Fouta Jallonke as the Switzerland of West Africa.
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