 Wase was a part of Plateau Province when it was established in 1926, and then Plateau State upon Nigerian Independence in 1960.Around 321 hectares (790 acres) of land around Wase is conserved for wildlife development and serves as a bird sanctuary - local species include the Rossy White Pelican.The protected land includes Wase Rock, a massive dome-shaped inselberg of volcanic origin standing at 350m in height, making it visible from a distance of some 40km (25 miles).