MOUNT CAMEROON / FAKO IN STAMPS

VINTAGE STAMPS (1972, 1983) 

Mount Cameroon or Fako  (4, 040 m - 13,250 ft) 

Cameroon 

1 In Mont Cameroun en Eruption, 1983 Stamp 70F designed by Louis-Marie Lemana for 

République Unie du Cameroun 

2. In Mont Cameroun et Fleuve Wouri, 1972 Stamp 40F designed by P. Lambert for 

 République Fédérale du Cameroun

 Courtesy mountainstamp.com

The mountain 

Mount Cameroon (4, 040 m - 13,250 ft) is an active volcano in Cameroon near the Gulf of Guinea (Africa). Mount Cameroon is also known as Cameroon Mountain or Fako (the name of the higher of its two peaks) or by its native name Mongo ma Ndemi ("Mountain of Greatness"). It is the highest point in sub-Saharan western and central Africa,  the fourth most prominent peak in Africa and the 31st most prominent in the world. It rises from the coast through tropical rainforest to a bare summit which is cold, windy, and occasionally dusted with snow. 

The mountain is part of the area of volcanic activity known as the Cameroon Volcanic Line, which also includes Lake Nyos. More than 100 small cinder cones, often fissure-controlled parallel to the long axis of the massive 1,400-cubic-kilometre (336 cu mi) volcano, occur on the flanks and surrounding lowlands. A large satellitic peak, Etinde (also known as Little Mount Cameroon), is located on the southern flank near the coast. 

Mount Cameroon has the most frequent eruptions of any West African volcano. 

The first written account of volcanic activity could be the one from the Carthaginian Hanno the Navigator, who might have observed the mountain in the 5th century BC. Moderate explosive and effusive eruptions have occurred throughout history from both summit and flank vents. A 1922 eruption on the southwestern flank produced a lava flow that reached the Atlantic coast, and a lava flow from a 1999 south-flank eruption stopped only 200 m (660 ft) from the sea, cutting the coastal highway.  The most recent eruption occurred on February 3, 2012.

English explorer Mary Kingsley, was one of the first Europeans to scale the mountain in 1897.

The peak is frequently ascended by hikers. The annual Mount Cameroon Race of Hope scales the peak in around 4½ hours. Sarah Etonge, who has won the race seven times and is also a tour operator, has become known as queen of the mountain.

Vintage Stamps in Cameroon 
After being colonized by British and by French, Cameroon Became independent in 1960.
The independent Cameroon has issued stamps from 1960 – the first set commemorating independence. After the establishment of the federal republic, when the Southern Cameroons join Cameroon, stamps of Cameroon are, in 1961, overprinted ‘République Federale’ and a face value in the British currency for specific use in the Southern Cameroons. A set inscribed ‘République Federale’ and surcharged in the British currency is issued on 1 January 1962. Subsequent issues are in Cameroon CFA Franc currency only. Since independence, Cameroon has had a modest issuing policy with many issues with themes of national interest and a limited number of issues aimed at the topical collectors market.
General issues about Cameroon Stamps :
- German protectorate (1897-1919)
- French mandated territory (1921-1946)
- French trust territory (1946-1957)
- French trust territory, self government (1957-1960),
- Republic (1960-1961)
- Federal republic of Cameroon (1961-1972)
- United republic (1972-1984)
-  Republic  (984 - Present)