Interesting facts about Mt. Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain and the world’s largest free-standing mountain.
Located in Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain at about 5,895 meters (19,340 feet).
It is the largest free-standing mountain rise in the world, meaning it is not part of a mountain range.
Interesting facts about Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania
Mount kilimanjaro is Also called a stratovolcano (a term for a very large volcano made of ash, lava, and rock),
Kilimanjaro made up of three cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. Kibo is the summit of the mountain and
the tallest of the three volcanic formations. on Mount kilimanjaro While Mawenzi and Shira are extinct, Kibo is dormant and
could possibly erupt again.
Scientists estimate that the last time it erupted was 360,000 years agoTo form the peaks of the Mount. The highest point on Kibo’s crater
rim is called Uhuru, the Swahili word for “freedom.” The mountain is also known for its snow-capped peak;
however, scientists warn that the snow might disappear within the next 20 years or so.
In 1889, German geographer Hans Meyer and Austrian mountaineer Ludwig Purtscheller became the first
people on record to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro. Since then, Kilimanjaro has become a popular hiking
spot for locals and tourists.
Because mountaineering gear and experience is not needed to reach the peak, tens of thousands of
climbers ascend the mountain each year. The climb is still dangerous, however, because of the risk
of altitude sickness—a condition climbers experience if they ascend too quickly, which can be deadly if not treated right away.
In 1973, the mountain and its six surrounding forest corridors Kilimanjaro National Park in
order to protect its unique environment. The park named a United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site in 1987.
A variety of animals live in the area surrounding the mountain, including the blue monkey (Cercopithecus mitis).
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