mount kenya highest mountain kenya second highest africa highest peaks mountain metres metres metres mount kenya located central kenya kilometres south equator kilometres north northeast capital mount kenya source mount kenya created approximately million years opening east african rift high covered ice cap thousands years resulted eroded slopes numerous valleys centre currently small glaciers forested slopes important source water kenya vegetation bands base summit lower slopes covered different types forest alpine species endemic mount kenya giant local subspecies rock area km2 centre mountain designated national park listed park receives visitors year mount kenya national park mount kenya national park established protects region surrounding mountain currently national park forest reserve april area designated national park forest reserve combined government kenya reasons creating national park mount kenya importance tourism local national economies preserve area great scenic beauty conserve biodiversity park preserve water surrounding area kenya government announced project discourage animals small holdings surrounding park devastating crops project park enclosed electric fence electrified strands expected completed fence discharge electric shock dangerous humans animals local culture main ethnic groups living closely related mountain important aspect cultures cultures arrived mount kenya area years live southern western sides mountain use highly fertile volcanic soil lower slopes believe god lived mount kenya came sky believe mountain throne earth place father tribe meet god according records person earth ascend mountain language translate owner crown translates owner crown snow caps mountain symbolically represent crown god crown reference translate context god seen owner rare bird build houses doors facing mountain mount kenya literally translates crown locally accepted god resting place god lives referring people live south east believe mountain god home word god mountain sacred build houses doors facing people closely related people settlers southeast mountain occupy east north slopes mountain generally agricultural livestock occupy fertile land kenya skies kenya means mountain white features kenya features lot folklore songs semi nomadic people use land north mountain cattle believe ancestors came mountain beginning time means mountain stripes referring dark shades observed surrounding plains prayer refers mount kenya god children let like olive tree let grow expand let like like kenya like number geology mount kenya active original crater probably high higher extinct major periods shown main rings glaciers lowest found today glaciers reach lower studying gregory forward theory time summit mountain covered ice cap eroded peaks today lower slopes mountain mainly cultivated forested distinguished steep sided shaped valleys tributaries higher mountain area valleys shaped shallower bottoms created mount kenya active satellite activity north eastern mountain old volcanic largest ice cap main peaks covered ice seen summit peak circular hills steep sides frequent area probably remains small remaining mountain roughly symmetrical activity occurred central plug rocks form mainly reported gregory following study geology geology mount kenya area proposed saw mountain nearby wrote extinct volcano plug exposed seen mountain distance description widely believed europe particularly ascended mountain described considered crater gregory expedition reached lewis confirmed volcano extinct glaciers present thorough survey europeans undertaken peaks peaks mount kenya volcanic origin majority peaks located near centre mountain peaks alpine appearance nature typically alpine terrain highest peaks occur intersection ridges central peaks small alpine plants growing rock away central peaks volcanic covered volcanic ash soils vegetation growing peaks typical vegetation band highest peaks metres separated gate gap metres highest unlike previous peaks form central plug peaks central plug include john peter steep form significant outlying peaks include form pair twin peaks north main plug form large parasitic plug notable peaks include hat glaciers glaciers retreating rapidly kenya photographs showing mountain climbed recently retreat glaciers evident descriptions peaks advise use true cases higher heights year new snow accumulating winter melting summer largest winter formation new ice predicted years longer ice glacial retreat disappearance caused change temperature trends change precipitation trends names clockwise north gregory lewis diamond darwin area glaciers mountain measured 1980s recorded km2 far smaller observations 1890s mount kenya equator freezing nightly temperatures result centimetres inches surface patterned ground present west hill grow repeated freezing ground drawing water present ground cracked form occurs night temperatures freeze soil morning daily expansion soil prevents establishment vegetation rivers mount kenya main water area large rivers kenya largest river kenya north mount kenya ecosystem provides water directly million people rivers named villages slopes mountain flow close district boundary mount kenya major water tower river supplied kenya electricity series seven hydroelectric dams density streams high especially lower slopes ice cap cover mountain eroded large shaped valleys tend large stream original shape shield volcano preserved millions years streams area characterised frequent deep shaped valleys gradual transition valley clearly observed rivers start mount kenya tributaries large rivers rivers lot mount rivers flow tributary joins reservoir rivers northern mountain flow rivers south west flow remaining rivers south east flow directly natural history mount kenya ecological zones surrounding mountain zone glaciers zone dominant species vegetation species found higher mountain endemic mount kenya differences zones depending mountain aspect slope south east north species dependent moisture able grow species bamboo limited certain aspects mountain moisture zones climate changes considerably altitude forming belts community types base mountain fertile farmland tribes living mountain cultivated cool relatively moist area centuries mount kenya surrounded forests vegetation forests depend rainfall species present differ greatly northern southern slopes time passed trees edge forest logged farmland fertile slopes mountain forest belt bamboo zone continuous restricted small isolated north low rainfall bamboo natural require forest disturbance tracks common bamboo bamboo vegetation uncommon find trees plants bamboo forest trees smaller trees forests lower mountain forest intact accessible better protected trees longer grow vegetation changes found areas west dominated giant found drier areas grasses common bush fires occur altitude increases temperature fluctuations extreme air thinner drier region known alpine zone environment isolated similar area nearby away species endemic adaptations cold fluctuating temperatures typical plants include giant giant region glaciers recently retreated zone area plants able flora flora found varies altitude aspect exposure altitude increases plants specialised adaptations strong sunlight lower mean temperatures freezing night temperatures plants alpine zone overcome difficulties ways adaptation known giant exhibited giant giant giant use leaves protect freezing giant form single aged stands drive community structure decades plant species alpine zone mount kenya giant versions lowland temperate relatives nearer zone plants decrease size fauna majority animals live lower slopes mount kenya vegetation climate extreme species tree larger animals elephant buffalo live forest predators found include leopard occasionally lion fewer mammals found high altitudes mount kenya common able live important ecosystem smaller mammals groove toothed rat live giant thick stem dead leaves mount kenya mole rat occurs high altitudes living visible resident alpine zone species occasional visitors remains elephants found high alpine zone sightings remembered names means lion bird species live alpine zone including alpine eagle hunting birds important ecosystem climate climate played critical role development mountain influencing topography ecology factors typical mountain climate described winter night summer day mount kenya home atmospheric monitoring stations seasons year divided distinct wet seasons distinct dry seasons mirror wet dry seasons mount kenya ranges height climate varies considerably mountain different zones influence lower south eastern slopes predominant weather system comes indian ocean rainfall supports dense forest slopes high mountain precipitation falls snow combined water sources feed glaciers current climate wet drier past temperatures span wide range altitude lower alpine zone temperature usually snow rain common march december especially wet seasons wet seasons combined account annual precipitation monsoon controls wet dry seasons means year south easterly winds january february dominant wind direction north easterly mount kenya like locations tropics wet seasons dry seasons result monsoon mid march june heavy rain season known long rains brings approximately half annual rainfall mountain followed dry seasons lasts september october december short rains mountain receives approximately rainfall total finally december mid march drier dry season mountain experiences rain daily pattern dry season mountain follows daily weather pattern large daily temperature fluctuations occur led winter night summer day variation minimum maximum temperatures day day standard mean hourly pattern small typical day clear cool morning low humidity mountain direct sunlight causes temperatures rise quickly temperatures occurring corresponds maximum pressure usually low mountain clouds begin form western forest zone moist air winds caused warm rising air gradually bring clouds summit region afternoon minimum sunlight maximum humidity causing actual perceived temperature drop minimum pressure daily cover cloud protects glaciers south west mountain direct sun day enhancing melt cloud eventually reaches dry easterly air streams leading clear sky maximum temperature associated mountain daylight hours constant hour days sunrise sun setting course year minute difference shortest longest days night sky usually clear winds blowing valleys lower alpine zone usually frost night history european sighting european report seeing german missionary town away mountain sighting december year discovery told people tribe lived mountain ascend high mountain intense cold white matter rolled mountains loud noise led glaciers existed mountain gave mountain kenya known certainty local names similar noted rivers flowing mount kenya mountains area continuously flowing different rivers area wet season completely dried rainy season ended streams flowed seasons concluded source water mountain form glaciers believed mountain source returned travelled kilometres closer mountain area heard stories mountain claim people began suspicious eventually passed close west mountain confirmed claim diverted expedition reached slopes mountain retreat trouble local people european exploration high mountain achieved managed reach south western slopes expedition mistakenly believed found crater volcano returned eastern unable forest finally expedition managed ascend far glaciers expedition traveling coast lake led british managed ascend mountain spent hours guide return britain gregory published papers narrative account achievements german physician expeditions reach east mountain exploration occurred railway completed far future site expedition july sir set site expedition members expedition consisted europeans guides europeans second command photographer botanist guide guide porter expedition far mountain encountered difficulties way country passed plague famine tried desert women villages stole villages chiefs hostile expedition reached base camp august find food party killed local people eventually send help government officer pushed mountain established camp attempt summit august south east face retreat summit nightfall september circuit main peaks looking easier route summit find september ascent forced retreat returned relief party attempt summit traversed lewis climbed south east face spent night near traversed head darwin dawn cutting steps diamond reached summit noon september descended route ascent mount kenya fewer expeditions majority exploration world war settlers kenya scientific expeditions mission set scottish missionaries ascended peaks including succeeded new approach routes cleared forest access peaks area far easier arthur sir tried cut route south routes came north commonly route mission east built credited building january ascent climbed descended gate ascending january time december ascent ascent year formed end july traverse peaks ascended traversed gate descended normal route trip peaks including present day early 1930s visits fewer far peaks ascended map mountain stocked streams trout february miss woman african respectively ascend expedition author night cambridge march miss woman ascend second world war drop mountain remarkable ascent period italians held british camp base mountain escaped camp climb mountain peak escaping camp team leader story book picnic mount kenya kenya split area designated national park road built allowing easier access new routes climbed decades october kenya produced guide mount kenya independence raised flag mountain died given heroic funeral attended president early 1970s mount kenya national park mountain rescue team formed end 1970s major routes peaks climbed july south african registered aircraft carrying passengers crew crashed point survived aircraft lost mountain wreckage helicopter crashed march massive fire thousands hectares ancient forests endangered wildlife climbing routes peaks majority involve rock climbing easiest route require scramble walk highest peak ascended climbing majority visitors national park year climb peak contrast approximately people summit summit highest peaks ascended directly usually climbed grade ascended july route usually climbed days climbed route climbed january possible traverse peaks involves spending night descent route mount kenya climbing seasons result location equator northern summer rock routes north peak good summer condition time ice routes south peak prime shape situation reversed southern summer seasons separated months rainy season climbing conditions generally unfavorable mount kenya home good ice routes famous diamond ice window route snow ice levels mountain retreating accelerated rate recent years making climbs increasingly difficult dangerous diamond steep ice fed fusion upper diamond pioneered summer winter virtually summer conditions seldom deemed condition winter climbing reports describe route difficult especially lower section route changed modern ice climb difficult pitch starting dry followed ice pitches moderate climbing good ice finally pitch water ice ice getting upper diamond satellite peaks mountain provide good climbs climbed alpine style vary difficulty scramble climbing grade useful climbing higher peaks right walking routes walking routes main peaks starting clockwise north frequently staffed gates routes require special permission use route leads town peaks circuit path heads forest south east mountain views areas giant table following past temple col kenya claims giant offer best kenya route taken try reach point ascended days camp route starts town west mountain climbs joining terrain usually good section called vertical route approaches north west path splits frequently fork following route traversing paths rejoin path main peaks distance kilometres height gain loss metres walked day commonly takes join different ascent descent routes route require technical climbing accommodation accommodation mount kenya ranges basic luxurious luxurious found lower slopes forest hotel style accommodation log fires hot running water offer guided walks activities fishing higher mountain basic beds offer rest cook eat running water basic offering space sleep sheltered weather beds reserved park gates camping allowed encouraged limit environmental impact possible use communal spaces extra fee etymology origin kenya clear linked words mean god resting place languages 19th century german explorer recorded believed corruption version contrary precise correct african pronunciation case long time pronounced colonial heritage europeans european pronunciation abandoned modern times favor african version names peaks peaks mount kenya given names different sources firstly commemorated names commemorate medicine man brother sons named second type names given peaks european explorers examples arthur remaining names known personalities exception john peter named missionary arthur disciples group peaks east main peaks named european settlers additional reading picnic mount kenya isbn best nicholas speak earth isbn began oral history isbn retrieved june facing mount kenya isbn ice equator wisconsin ltd isbn survey long glacial history kenya geological environmental settings sequences ancient soils significance understanding
Mount Kenya