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Mount kilimanjaro,
at 5891.8 metres ( 19330 ft)
is the highest peak in Africa
providing a dramatic and breathtaking
views of the surrounding plains.
It is unknown where the name
Kilimanjaro comes from, but
a number of theories exist.
European explorers had adopted
the name by 1860 and reported
that it was its Swahili name.
It is also one of the largest
stratovolcanoes in the world,
otherwise known as a composite
volcano, it comprises numerous
layers of lava, tephra and volcanic
ash. However, at the moment
it is dormant. According to
experts there have been no eruptions
in living memory. Recent studies
suggest the last eruptions on
the mountain were between 150,000
and 200,000 years ago.
Kilimanjaro has
unique vegetation such as the
water holding cabbage in the
tussock grassland and other
plants like this all adapted
to living in alpine conditions.
Kilimanjaro has a large variety
of forest types over an altitudinal
range of 3,000 m containing
over 1,200 vascular plant species.
Montane Ocotea forests occur
on the wet southern slope. Cassipourea
and Juniperus forests grow on
the dry northern slope. Subalpine
Erica forests at 4,100 m represent
the highest elevation cloud
forests in Africa. In contrast
to this enormous biodiversity,
the degree of endemism is low.
However, forest relicts in the
deepest valleys of the cultivated
lower areas suggest that a rich
forest flora inhabited Mt Kilimanjaro
in the past, with restricted-range
species otherwise only known
from the Eastern Arc mountains.
The low degree of endemism on
Kilimanjaro may result from
destruction of lower altitude
forest rather than the relatively
young age of the mountain. Another
feature of the forests of Kilimanjaro
is the absence of a bamboo zone,
which occurs on all other tall
mountains in East Africa.
There are several
routes by which to climb Mt
Kilimanjaro, namely, Marangu,
Rongai, Lemosho, Shira, Umbwe
and Machame. Of all the routes,
Machame is by far the most scenic
albeit steeper route up the
mountain, which can be done
in 6 or 7 days.
Some of the records on climbing
the Mount kilimanjaro include:
- Fastest ascent: Bruno Brunod,
5 hours 38 minutes 40 seconds
- Fastest ascent (female):
Rebecca Rees-Evans 13 hours
16 minutes 37 seconds
- Fastest ascent and descent:
Simon Mtuy, 8 hours 27 minutes
- Youngest person to summit:
Keats Boyd, 7-years old
- Oldest person to summit:
Karl Haupt, 79 years old or
Valtee Daniel, 87 years old
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