Kilimanjaro, located atUnited Republic of TanzaniaNortheast andEast African Rift ValleyAbout 160 km south and 225 km south of Nairobi[16]Between the equator and 3 ° south latitude, it is the watershed between Tanzania and Kenya. The highest point is Uhuru Peak, the top of Kibo, with an altitude of 5895 meters. It is the highest point in Africa, the highest isolated peak in the world, the first peak in Africa, and one of the "ridges of Africa"call。[14-15]
The main body of Kilimanjaro extends nearly 80 kilometers along the east-west direction, mainly including Kibo, Mawenxi and SheilaExtinct volcanoWith an area of 756 square kilometers.[13]The typical volcanic curve inclines to the plain below. The height of the plain is about 900 meters above sea level. The mountain top is covered with ice and snow all the year round, but the phenomenon of glacier melting is very serious.The mountain is surrounded by forests, where many mammals live, some of which are endangered species.
Kilimanjaro has been established as a national park in 1968, where wild plants in the hot, warm and cold zones and wild animals in the hot, warm and cold zones live.The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization included it in the World Cultural and Natural Heritage List in 1981.
Chinese name
Kilimanjaro
Foreign name
Kilimanjaro
geographical position
Northeast of East African Plateau, Northeast of Tanzania
Crustal movement still exists in the East African Rift Valley until today, and Kilimanjaro is the result of recent volcanic activity.Its formation began about 750000 years ago and was initially composed of three large mountain passes: Sheila, Kibo and Mawenz.Then the Sierra cone collapsed and disappeared, followed by Mawenz.However, Kibo volcano has always kept its vitality. There was a large-scale eruption about 360000 years ago. The black lava it released covered the Shira crater and formed the Kilimanjaro saddle on the original site of Mawenz volcano.[1]
Kilimanjaro
About 25 million years ago, when the crustal fracture formed the East African Rift Valley, the crust rose sharply and a large amount of magma poured out, forming a series of volcanoes on both sides of the Rift Valley, the highest of which was Mount Kilimanjaro.
Location context
Announce
edit
Kilimanjaro
The mountain extends nearly 80 kilometers along the east-west direction and consists of three volcanic craters, namely Kibo Peak (5895m), Mawensi Peak (5149m) and Shira Peak (3962m).
From the geological point of view, Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano, and it is also the only snow mountain near the equator with snow all the year round.The ice layer on the peak here was once as thick as 80 meters, and even in a very far place, you can see the snow crown refracted by the sun.Due to global warming and melting glaciers, the snow line here is receding at a rate of nearly 1 meter per year, which is visible to the naked eye.
The whole Kilimanjaro Mountain ranges from east to west for more than 80 kilometers, mainly composed ofMawenji Peak(Mawensi, 5149m)Xila Peak(Shira, 3962m) andKibo Peak(Kibo, 5892m), of which Mawenji Peak and Kibo Peak are the most famous.
Kilimanjaro has two main peaks, one is calledUhuru, the other is calledMa Wenji, there is a saddle shaped ridge more than 10 kilometers long between the two peaksequatorThere is a crater with a diameter of 2400 meters and a depth of 200 meters at the peak. The four walls of the crater are crystal clear huge ice, and the bottom is covered with huge icicles, like a huge jade basin.[2]
Kilimanjaro
Shiraz RidgeThe altitude of 3778 meters is only the remnant of an earlier crater.Below the saddle ridge, the main body of Kilimanjaro inclines to the plain below with a typical volcanic curve, and the height of the plain is about 900 meters above sea level.
Kibo PeakAlthough it looks like a dome covered with snow, there is a crater with a diameter of 2km and a depth of about 300m in the south.In the crater there is an internal volcanic cone showing residual volcanic activity.Although Kibo Peak is still dormantVolcanic fumaroleVolcanic gas is also released from time to time.An investigation conducted by scientists in 2003 confirmed that the lava of the volcano was only 400 meters deep from the surface of the crater at the summit, and there was no sign of eruption.Different from the regular cone of Hulu Peak, Mawenxi Peak is strongly eroded, rugged and steep, and split by east-west narrow valleys.Kiboice sheetRemains along the edge of the ice sheet, forming large scattered ice blocks.On the southwest slope of Kibo, the glacier ends at 4270 meters (14000 feet), and only drops to a short distance below its peak on its north side.Mawenxi MountainThere is no permanent ice and almost no snow.[3]
Kilimanjaro is located about 160 kilometers south of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa. It is a volcanic hill, 5963 meters high, and covers an area of 756 square kilometers.[4]
landforms
becauseglobal warming, KilimanjaroIce and snow meltingThe disappearance of glaciers is very serious, and the glaciers have shrunk by more than 80% in the past 80 years.Some environmental experts pointed out that the Kilimanjaro Snow Top may melt and disappear completely within 10 years“Equatorial Snow Mountain”The spectacle will bid farewell to mankind.[5]
climate
Kilimanjaro has blocked the Indian OceanHumid monsoonTherefore, the water source is sufficient.The combination of water flow and temperature conditions makes Kilimanjaro Mountain form several different mountain vertical vegetation zones from top to bottom.Above 4000 metersAlpine cold desert zoneandSnow covered glacier belt, the following are about every 1000 metersAlpine meadow zone、Temperate forest zone、Subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest beltandEquatorial rainforest belt。[6]
According to the vertical distribution law of the mountain climate, the basic climate of Kilimanjaro is from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountainTropical rain forestClimate to ice field climate.The landscape includes basic vegetation from the equator to the poles.Because it is located near the equator, vegetation starts from tropical rainforest.Climate distribution belongs toNon zonalityDistribution.Therefore, Mount Kilimanjaro is easy to formOrographic rain, bringing it abundant precipitation.
Kilimanjaro Mountain has several vegetation zones in succession, and its composition (from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain) is: semi-arid of the surrounding plateaubushesOn the south slope, there are farmland with sufficient water, dense cloud forest, open marshland, alpine desert, symbiotic zone of moss and lichen.[7]
On the mountainside above 2000 meters and below 5000 meters, there are dense forests with tall trees and a wide variety of species, many of which are rare varieties in Africa and the world, such asMubraeThe tree with extremely long growth period, hard wood and strong corrosion resistance is a superior material for furniture or house building.
The hillside below 2000 meters has a warm climate and abundant rainfall. On the fertile volcanic ash soil, there are coffee, peanuts, tea, banana acacia bark, cotton, pyrethrum, potatoes and other economic cropsTanzaniaIt is one of the main production areas of light coffee, barley, wheat and sucrose.At the foot of the mountain, the climate is hot. Even under the shade of trees, the temperature is often above 30 ℃. There are deep and colorful tropical African scenery everywhere.piedmontOn the surrounding wilderness,African elephant、zebra、Ostrich、giraffe、rhinocerosTropical wildlife and rareColobus monkeyandBlue monkey、Arabian antelope、TakinIt is famous in the world to wait there and live freelyWildlife Reserve。There are also lush tropical crops growing here. In addition to sugar cane, bananas and cocoa, most of them are used to make rope from Naboosisal, covering the sky and the earth.
Developing rivers
Announce
edit
Kilimanjaro
The average annual precipitation on the slopes of Kilimanjaro is 1780 mm (70 inches).Water supply on the south and east slopesPangani(Pangani) River, Tsavo River and Jipe Lake, while the flow on the north slope supplies Amboseli Lake andChawo River。The Pare Mountains extend southeast from Kilimanjaro.
Historical culture
Announce
edit
The residents of Kilimanjaro areChagga (Chaga or Chagga), Pare, Kahe and Mbugu.
Myth and legend
KilimanjaroTanzaniaThe pride in their hearts, they regard themselves as the people under the sail of the grassland.It is said that a long time ago, the god of heaven came to this towering mountain to look down on and bless his people from the top of the mountain.In order to drive away the gods, the demons and ghosts in the mountain lit a fire inside the mountainside, and hot lava spewed out with the raging fire.The monster's behavior angered the god of heaven. He called for thunder, lightning and pouring rain to put out the fire, and called for snow and hail to fill the smoky mountain pass. This is the equatorial snow mountain seen today, a unique scenic spot on the earth.This ancient and beautiful story has been told among the Tanzanian people for generations, making the mountain sacred and majestic.The high peak of Kilimanjaro is covered with snow, and the mountainside is surrounded by clouds, which is full of mysterious atmosphere. Especially at dusk, the clouds on the top of the mountain occasionally dissipate, and the silvery white peak is shining in the golden sunset, revealing a gorgeous face, which is colorful and brilliant.For many centuries, many local people believed that Mount Kilimanjaro was "the throne of God", respected it as a god, and spread many wonderful and beautiful folk tales.Mount Kilimanjaro is sacred to Tanzanians. Many tribes hold traditional sacrificial activities at the foot of the mountain every year to worship the mountain god and pray for peace.[8]
One of the most popular sayings is that in ancient times, a boy was herding on the grassland, and he was driving his sheep on his way home in the evening when a demon suddenly appeared. In order to avoid being hurt by the demon, the resourceful and brave boy immediately bent down, grabbed a handful of loess and scattered it to the demon, which suddenly turned the loess into an earth mountain, pressing the demon below.As the devil struggled constantly at the foot of the mountain, the earth mountain kept shaking, and every time it shook, it grew an inch higher. As time passed, it became Mount Kilimanjaro today.
Another saying is that a god passed by here a long time ago, and saw the brook gurgling, the vegetation lush, the flowers blooming, full of joy, so he sat on a stone and quietly enjoyed this fairyland on earth.After the god left, the stone became a treasure mountain covered with gold and silver.When the local people knew about it, they went around and thanked God for his gift.People climbed to the top of the mountain one after another, and everyone consciously lifted up a piece of gold or silver to take home.From then on, we had a good life.When the news reached the chief, he hurried to the top of the mountain with a large cloth bag to collect gold and silver, and filled a cloth bag.How did the greedy chief know that one person should not pick up more than 5 pieces of gold or silver at a time, or the gold and silver would turn into ice.When he took up his cloth bag and walked to the mountainside with joy, suddenly there was a loud thunder, a sudden gust of wind, cold weather, and a sound of "Pi Pi" behind him.When he looked back, all the gold and silver on the top of the mountain suddenly became a white glacier world.Suddenly, the chief was dizzy, bleeding from seven holes, and died violently on the mountainside.
Historical cognition
When Johannes Rebmann and Ludwig Krapf, the German missionaries, arrived at Kilimanjaro in 1848, the strata there were known to Europeans. However, the news that there were snow capped mountains near the equator (at 3 ° south latitude) was not believed until a long time later.The top of Kibo Peak was first climbed by Hans Meyer, a German geographer, and Ludwig Purtscheller, an Austrian mountaineer, in 1889.Mawenxi Peak was first reached by Fritz Klute, a German geographer, in 1912.[5]
Kilimanjaro is also a place where mountaineers from all over the world gather, and mountaineers of all colors often show their skills here.Kilimanjaro has two mountaineering routes, one is the "tourism mountaineering" route. With the help of guides and porters, tourists can climb the top of the mountain in three days;The other is the "mountaineer" route, which is very dangerous along the cliffs.
The Kilimanjaro Inter national Airport , can landBoeing 747There are 14 international routes to all parts of the world. Tourists from five continents can take flights directly to the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Kilimanjaro
Climbing season
It is generally selected in the middle of January to March every year, when the weather is very sunny and the temperature is appropriate;The second is July September, when the temperature is low but dry
Climbing Record
Shian Birch, from Washington, USA, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with an altitude of 5895 meters in 5 hours, 28 minutes and 58 seconds, breaking the previous record of 8 hours, 34 minutes and 52 seconds held by Italian Bruno Bruno for four years.Dar es Salaam On June 11, 2005, one personWorld Wildlife Fund's workers wereTanzaniaThe northern part set a new record for the time it took to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa.
Both records were created on the Mangura mountaineering path.
The starting point of the path is close to 2000 meters above sea level.
Mountaineering route
Kilimanjaro has three classic climbing paths for professional and amateur climbers, and professional climbing guides and porters help climb the mountain. The longest one is Malangou.But for adapting to the altitude, this route is very good and not difficult.[10]
Generally, the time spent on this route is:
first day:Malan Valley Gate(1980 m) - Mandala Camp (2700 m), 12 km, 5 hours,Tropical rain forestBand;
the second day:Mandala Camp(2700 m) - Haolunbo Camp (3720 m), 15 km, 7 hours, temperate coniferous forestTemperate grassland zone；
Day 3: Hannumbo Camp (3720 meters) - Kibo Camp (4700 meters), 15 kilometers, 9 hours, high mountain desert zone;
Day 5: Hulumbo Camp - Malan Valley Gate, 27 km, 8 hours.
Equatorial snow peak
Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, is located near the equator. Its top is covered with snow all the year round. It is famous for its "equatorial snow peak".[11]
Related events
Announce
edit
On October 19, 2021, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a United Nations agency, and the African Union released the Report on Climate Conditions in Africa 2020, which said that if this climate situation continued, the glaciers in Africa's only mountains with glaciers: Mount Kenya in Kenya, Mount Ruwenzori in Uganda, and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania might melt completely in 2040.[12]
