Mount Kenya

Mount Kenya is the second highest mountain in Africa.

It sits about 150 km north-northeast of Nairobi. The mountain is located just 16.5 km south of the equator. It sits at the intersection of several counties. These include Meru, Embu, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, and Tharaka Nithi. The area is protected as the Mount Kenya National Park.

This park was officially gazetted in 1949. It later became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The site is famous for its natural beauty and ecological importance. It serves as a critical sanctuary for many endangered species. It also acts as a primary water tower for the region.

The mountain began as a stratovolcano. A stratovolcano is a type of volcano built by layers of ash and lava.

This volcano formed roughly 3 million years after the East African Rift opened. In the past, the mountain was likely much taller. Some experts believe it may have been higher than Mount Kilimanjaro. The volcano is now extinct. It has undergone two major periods of glaciation. This means it was covered by ice during two different times. Glaciers are large masses of moving ice. This ice carved the mountain into its current shape. The movement of prehistoric ice sheets created shallow, U-shaped valleys in the high moorland. In contrast, the lower slopes have deep, V-shaped valleys made by river erosion.

The central peaks of the mountain are volcanic plugs. A volcanic plug is the hardened remains of magma inside a vent.

These plugs have resisted erosion better than the surrounding rock. The highest peaks are Batian, which is 5,199 m, and Nelion, which is 5,188 m. These two peaks are separated by the Gate of the Mists gap. Point Lenana is the third highest peak at 4,985 m. Other notable peaks include Point Piggot and Point Dutton. There are also twin peaks to the north called Terere and Sendeyo. These form a large parasitic plug. The rocks here include basalts, phonolites, and trachytes. One specific rock type, kenyte, was named after the mountain in 1900.

Glaciers still exist on the mountain, but they are changing. There are currently 11 small glaciers remaining. The Lewis Glacier is the largest of these.

These glaciers are retreating very rapidly. Scientists predict they may disappear by the year 2050. This happens because more ice melts in summer than accumulates in winter. This retreat is caused by changes in temperature or precipitation trends. The total area of these glaciers was much larger in the 1980s. The loss of this ice is a significant environmental change.

Many different living things depend on Mount Kenya. The mountain has several distinct vegetation bands.

These zones change as you move from the base to the peak. The lower slopes are covered in various types of forest. The high moorland contains many endemic species. Endemic species are plants or animals found nowhere else on Earth. Examples include giant lobelias and senecios.

You can also find a local subspecies of rock hyrax.

The mountain is also a vital source of water. Runoff from the mountain provides water for over 2 million people.

Local ethnic groups have lived near the mountain for centuries. The Kikuyu, Embu, Ameru, and Maasai all have deep ties to the land. The Kikuyu live on the southern and western sides. They use the fertile volcanic soil for agriculture. They call the mountain Kirinyaga, meaning "the one with the ostrich." This refers to how the white snow looks like an ostrich tail. They believe the mountain is the throne of God, Ngai. The Embu people live to the southeast. They also view the mountain as a sacred home for God. The Ameru live on the east and north slopes. They also practice agriculture and keep livestock. The Maasai are semi-nomadic people. They graze cattle on the land to the north. They call the mountain Ol Donyo Keri, or "mountain of stripes."

History shows how humans have studied this landscape. Joseph Thomson first described the mountain scientifically in 1883. He saw it from the Laikipia Plateau. He identified it as an extinct volcano. Later, an expedition in 1893 reached the Lewis Glacier. This helped confirm the presence of ice. In 1966, Europeans performed the first thorough survey. Today, the Kenya Wildlife Service manages the national park. They work to protect the biodiversity of the area. They also manage the forest reserve. To protect crops, the government is building an electric fence. The Rhino Ark Trust has already built 250 km of this fence. This helps keep animals from straying into local farms.