MOUNT KILIMANJARO
Kilimanjaro is the largest and highest mountain in Tanzania, Africa. Located in Tanzania, near the Kenya border, Kilimanjaro is an extinct volcano, and is one of the largest in the world. 19,335.6 feet above the surrounding plains the summit is a crater, known as Kibo, which is an incredible 1.5 miles across.
With the exception of the summit zone, wildlife is potentially encountered throughout the lower parts of the climb. Elephants, buffalo, and eland on the northern slopes; black & white colobus monkeys, Sykes monkeys, and tropical boubou in the forest belt; and birds such as sun birds, augur buzzard, mountain hawk eagle, lammergeier and white-naped ravens.
The highest point of Kilimanjaro is on one of the rims of the crater known as Uhuru. At the summit the crater is 600-feet deep and made of sulfurous ashes.
Climate ::
Kilimanjaro supports 5 major eco-zones: rainforest, heath, moorland, alpine desert and glaciers.
Other Names and Spellings ::
Kilima Dscharo
Kilimandscharo
Kilima Njaro (Swahili)
Oldoinyo Oibor (Masai)
Height :: 19,335.6 ft (5,895m)
Location ::
3°07'S, 37°35'e. Kilimanjaro is the largest of an E-W belt of about 20 volcanoes near the southern end of the East African Rift Valley in Tanzania.
Facts ::
- The name Kilimanjaro has no certain origin, but one of the most popular theories is that it came from KILMA NJARO meaning “shining mountain” in Swahili. The shiny snow on the peak led nearby residents to believe that evil spirits guarded the mountain. This myth could also explain why some referred to NJARO as a demon that caused cold.
- Because they saw fellow tribe members attempt the climb only to disappear or to return deformed from frostbite, the Chagga people—who live at the base of the mountain—for centuries had no desire to climb the mountain they believed was full of evil spirits.
- The structure is composed of 3 volcanoes: Kibo (19,340 feet), Mawenzi (16,896 feet), and Shira (13,000 feet).
- Kilimanjaro lies 205 miles South of the equator and stands on Tanzania’s northern border with Kenya.
| 
