Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro

This is the highest mountain in Africa. It is located in the country of Tanzania. It is famous for being the highest mountain in Africa and is one of the ‘Seven Summits’ of the World. IT is part of mountain range called East Africa Rift Valley Mountains

The mountain is part of the Kilimanjaro National Park and is a major climbing destination.

The mountain has been the subject of many scientific studies because of its shrinking glaciers and disappearing ice fields. Scientists believe this could be due to human activities and global warming.

The peaks of Kilimanjaro is covered with glaciers and snowcaps, although these have reduced in recent years. Around 80% of the snow has disappeared in the last 100 years.

Kilimanjaro is the highest active or dormant volcano outside South America.

Kilimanjaro is a large volcano and is composed of three distinct volcanic cones:

1.   Kibo: the highest, it is dormant and could erupt again, it measures over 15 miles wide;

2.   Mawenzi: at 5,149 metres (16,893 ft);

3.   Shira: the shortest at 4,005 metres (13,140 ft).

Mawenzi and Shira are extinct, while Kibo is dormant and could erupt again.

The last time Kilimanjaro erupted was over 150,000 years ago.

Around 1000 square kilometers of Kilimanjaro is forest.

Elephants and buffaloes can be found on the lower levels and foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. Other animals which are common are:

• The first people to climb Mount Kilimanjaro were Hans Meyer and Ludwig Purtscheller on October 6th, 1889.

Two rivers named Lumi and Panganis flow from Kilimanjaro.

Useful Links

• https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Kilimanjaro
• https://www.worldwildlife.org/blogs/good-nature-travel/posts/ten-interesting-facts-about-mt-kilimanjaro