In which country is Mount Kenya? Photos of Mount Kenya

Mount Kenya is considered one of the highest. It is located in the equatorial latitudes in the eastern hemisphere. The geographical top is in the East African Mountains (Africa) - East Central Kenya.

Country Kenya

In which country is Mount Kenya? It is located in Africa, in the country of the same name. Occupies the East African coast of the Indian Ocean. The country is called the cradle of the human race.

During the excavations on Lake Turkana, the tools and remains of the first humanoid inhabitants were found. They lived in this area over 3 million years ago.

Population of Kenya

Over 50 African tribes form the ethnic diversity of the country. Some of the tribes consist of only 1-2 thousand people. Traditional clothes they do not have, so today it is difficult to distinguish belonging to one of the tribe.

The official language is English and Swahili.

Mount Kenya

The country got its name thanks to the mountain, which is an inactive volcano. According to various legends, he was a haven of the local African deity - kikuyi. The mountain is the highest in Kenya and the second in its heights in Africa (after Kilimanjaro).

Kenya is an ideal place for traveling for those who do not represent their lives without mountain tracks and ascents.

Origin of the mountain

The mountain is a stratovolcano, which appeared about 3 million years after the appearance of the East African rift. Many thousands of years the mountain was covered with ice crusts. As a consequence, on the peaks one can observe great erosion, a huge number of valleys that diverge from the center.

Mount Kenya (photo can be seen below) is different from its larger brother (Kilimanjaro), whose peak looks smooth, like a dome under the snow. The top of the mountain looks like a sharp fragment, bursting into the firmament. This "splinter" is nothing but a volcanic cork, which formed in the crater mouth.

Today the mountain has 11 glaciers and is considered a valuable source of water for most residents of the country of the same name.

First Opener

In 1849, we learned about an extinct volcano. Found it Johann Ludwig Krapf, who can be considered the discoverer of the volcano. He was European. But then most scientists negatively spoke about the possible existence of glaciers in the immediate vicinity of the equator. The fact that the mountain really is, was confirmed only in 1883. After four years, the mountain Kenya has already hosted researchers.

Nature

The mountain has eight different natural belts. Slopes are covered with a variety of types of forests, where you can find many characteristic for mountainous areas of plants and animals.

Due to the fertility of the earth up to 2000 m on the hill tribes are actively engaged in agriculture. Above there are forests with cedar, where you can find ferns, olive groves, vines.

After passing about 2.5 thousand meters, you can see the thickets of bamboo, whose height reaches 12 meters.

To preserve nature in 1949, the National Park was created. It occupies about 715 square meters. M. The park has the same name. It is organized at a distance of about 3200 m from the foot.

In 1997, the park was included in the World Heritage List under the auspices of UNESCO. Every year in the park there are more than 15 thousand visitors.

Mount Kenya is an important tourist destination for the region and the country. The leadership of the Republic has formed a park, based on the following considerations:

• To protect the beautiful nature of the mountain;
• Preserve diversity of flora and fauna on the mountain and park;
• Keep drinking keys for the tribes that are near the mountain.

What is usually done in the National Park:

• Observe the behavior of rare and endangered species of animals;
• Observe the behavior of birds (over 130 species);
• Walk on foot;
• Visit the nursery of Ol Pajet.

Glaciers

On the mountain found 11 glaciers. In 1980, their area was measured. It is 0.7 square meters. Km. But since then it has decreased noticeably. There are still pictures of the mountain, preserved since the beginning of observations. Their comparison with modern photographs clearly shows that there is a reduction in the area of glaciers. Experts believe that over the next 30 years on the mountain will not remain a single piece of land where it will be possible to find snow.

Mountain and culture of the country

Mount Kenya, where you can observe the virgin nature, is home to several tribes. It is an integral part of their life, culture and way of life.

The Kikuyu tribe believes that the mountain is sacred. Therefore, they erect dwellings face up towards the top. At the same time, the entrance doors are as close to the mountain as possible. The tribe lives on the western and southern slopes. The main occupation is agricultural work. This is facilitated by the fertile lands that are at the bottom of the mountain.

The tribe believes that the god Ngai, coming from the sky, lived on this summit. And the tribe's father, in honor of whom he was named, met with him.

They call Mount Kirinjaga, free translation of the word means "shining mountain". This is due to the fact that the sun's rays are reflected from the icy crust covering the top. They call the god of the tribe Mven Nyaga, you can freely interpret as the "master of the world".

The tribe of the embu lives on the south-eastern slope. Similar to the previous people by building their homes, turning them face to face. The deity who lives on the top is called Ngai. Mount Kenya for them is called Kiri Nyeru, or Mount White . This tribe has close ties with the tribe Mbeer, living on the windward side of an extinct volcano. The lands of this people are arid and rocky.

Masai are semi-nomadic, grazing on the northern foothills of their animals. It is believed that previous generations lived on top of this extinct volcano and descended from it during the birth of life. For them, this volcano is called Ol-Donyo-Keri, literally means "a mountain of stripes of different colors." The name indicates that the mountain has several natural zones, which are species from the plains.

Amer live on the northern and eastern foothills. In general, they prefer to build farmland, graze animals. The mountain for them has the name of Kirimar (what has white material). In honor of the mountain, many songs are composed. But the god of the tribe (Amera) descended from heaven, and not from the mountain.

How to get there?

From Nairobi the road will take about two and a half hours by car. It is about 175 km, the road to the north-east.

It is very comfortable to go to the mountains of Kenya from nearby national parks.

There is an opportunity to visit the mountain, using the services of local airlines. When you reach the local Nanyuki Airport, take the car to the area where the Kenya Mountain is located.

In the park near the mountain there are several gates.

When is it better to go

The optimal time to visit the mountain and explore its surroundings is the beginning of the year and the beginning of the autumn (August-September). Then it's comfortable dry and warm weather.

Enjoy your journey and discover new roads!