Mount Kilimanjaro

At 19,336 feet high, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. The mountain is situated near the town of Moshi in northern Tanzania. Kilimanjaro is also one of the largest volcanoes on Earth. It features three volcanic cones: Mawenzi, Shira, and Kibo, the mountain’s highest peak. Although Mawenzi and Shira are extinct, Kibo lies dormant and may erupt again. Kilimanjaro's last volcanic activity occurred about two hundred years ago, although its last volcanic eruption was hundreds of thousands of years ago.

Kilimanjaro’s name is a mystery. Different theories exist as to the name’s origin. Some say the name is derived from the language spoken by the local people, the Chagga. When broken into two parts, the name could mean either “that which is impossible for the bird” or “that which defeats the caravan.” Others theorize that the name is Swahili in origin, meaning “Mountain of Greatness,” or is a Swahili/Chagga composite meaning “Mountain of Caravans.” The Chagga themselves do not have a single name for the mountain. They use two names, Mawenzi and Kibo, referring to the mountain’s two distinct peaks.

Overview

Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the tallest mountains in the world. It formed about 750,000 years ago. The Shira volcano was created when molten lava erupted through the Great Rift Valley, pushing part of Earth’s crust upward. Shira continued to erupt, but it eventually ceased erupting about a half-million years ago. It collapsed, forming a large caldera, a deep cavity on the volcano’s summit. Mawenzi formed after an eruption within the Shira caldera. Kibo was created when a large eruption occurred west of Mawenzi. The Kibo volcano erupted several more times, pushing its summit higher and higher. In addition, Kibo erupted about 100,000 years ago, which caused lava to spill into the Shira caldera and flow around the base of Mawenzi. The flowing lava eventually led to the formation of obsidian, or solidified black lava. Obsidian gives Kilimanjaro its distinctive shiny black appearance. Other eruptions from Kibo created mini-cones, or parasitic craters, which stretch across the mountain. These eruptions also created a smaller crater, known as the Reusch Crater, inside the main summit of Kibo. The volcanic activity that occurred about 200 years ago caused a symmetrical, inverted cone of ash to form in the Reusch Crater. The cone of ash is known as the Ash Pit. A strong sulfur odor emanates from the Reusch Crater, and steam and volcanic gases occasionally escape from the Ash Pit. In addition, the earth is hot to the touch.

Kilimanjaro has several ecological systems, including cultivated land, rain forest, wasteland, moorland, alpine desert, and an arctic summit. The mountain’s montane forest is inhabited by elephants, leopards, buffalo, Abbot’s duikers, and primates. The moorland zone lies higher up the mountain and features a cover of giant heather and giant lobelias. The alpine desert contains mosses and lichen but no other life. Ice and snow make up the arctic summit. Glaciers advance and retreat across the summit, leading to the formation of concentric rings at the top of the mountain's western side. These glaciers also formed valleys and canyons. Kilimanjaro’s snow caps, however, are disappearing. Since 1912, they have lost 80 percent of their mass. Scientists predict that the mountain may be completely void of ice by the mid-twenty-first century.

Kilimanjaro has its own weather pattern. Strong winds collide with the mountain slopes and are pushed upward. As a result, both temperature and atmospheric pressure fall, causing precipitation. Two rain-bearing seasonal winds attack Kilimanjaro every year. The first of these, the southeast trade wind, arrives between March and May and brings large amounts of rain. Then between May and October, dry “anti-trade” winds hit the mountain from the northeast but do not carry any rain. The second rain-bearing seasonal wind arrives between November and February. Known as the northeast monsoon, this wind brings rain, but not as much as the southeast trade wind.

About twenty-five thousand people attempt to summit Mount Kilimanjaro every year, and approximately two-thirds succeed. Experts recommend allowing a minimum of five nights for the climb to avoid altitude sickness. Climbers can choose one of six trekking routes, although more challenging routes are available. Many people are able to complete the climb with just a walking stick. However, many individuals hire porters and climbing guides. Permits must be obtained, and fees must also be paid. These fees fund conservation efforts. Climbers who reach Uhuru Point, the highest summit on Kibo’s crater, or Gillman’s Point, which is on the lip of the crater, earn a climbing certificate. Furthermore, most climbers who reach Uhuru Point record their thoughts in a book kept in a wooden box at the summit. Day and overnight hikes are available on the Shira plateau. Accommodations on the mountain include huts and campsites. Other campsites and hotels are available near Moshi and the village of Marangu. The best time to visit Kilimanjaro is between December and February or between July and September, as these months provide the best conditions.

Bibliography

"Climbing Kilimanjaro Success Rates by Routes." Climbing Kilimanjaro, www.climbing-kilimanjaro.com/kilimanjaro-success-rates. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.

"Kilimanjaro National Park." UNESCO World Heritage Convention, whc.unesco.org/en/list/403/. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.

Nelson, Marsea. "Ten Interesting Facts about Mt. Kilimanjaro." WWF Travel, 19 Feb. 2010, www.worldwildlife.org/blogs/good-nature-travel/posts/ten-interesting-facts-about-mt-kilimanjaro. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.

"Weather on Kilimanjaro." Climb Mount Kilimanjaro, www.climbmountkilimanjaro.com/about-the-mountain/weather. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.

"Why Is It Called 'Kilimanjaro?'" Climb Mount Kilimanjaro, www.climbmountkilimanjaro.com/about-the-mountain/the-name-kilimanjaro. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.