Kilimanjaro volcano - one of the most famous and popular places on the planet.This place is unique for many reasons: the splendor of the appearance of the mountains, the diversity of climatic zones, snow glaciers.Kilimanjaro is popular not only with tourists.There were shooting the famous film, the events on the mountain formed the basis of the plot of the legendary stories.
Come on Kilimanjaro can be through Kenya or Tanzania.This is doubly exciting - a traveler not only meet with the majestic mountain, but also to get acquainted with the culture and lifestyle of the indigenous population of these States.For Russians, this trip is good because it does not need to obtain a visa in advance (although there is the visa fee at the border).However, the formality - nothing compared with what people see on arrival.
majestic Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is located in the East Africa.More specifically, it is a dormant volcano, capable, as some geologists to awakening.Kilimanjaro - the highest mountain in Africa.At the peak point - 5,895 meters above sea level.The name "Kilimanjaro" from the African Swahili translates as "mountain that glitters."There is a version that the name is due to the fact that on top of the volcano are snow white glaciers, while around one can see continuous tropical characteristic colors - typical of Africa.
Mount Kilimanjaro is located in the State of Tanzania, but is located close to the border of Kenya.An interesting fact is that around it there are no other mountains, it is not part of a geological system.And because the mountain is especially attractive for tourists coming here in many ways to admire the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, towering against the backdrop of the tropical plains.Writer Ernest Hemingway called the hill wide as the world, a huge, high, and unbelievably white in the sun.
as an educated mountain
Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, has an age of about two million years.It was formed during volcanic processes: from the land of lava flows out, it solidifies and then there were new layers from the next eruption.In different periods of activity of the bowels of the earth formed peaks that make up Kilimanjaro: Kibo (central, very young age), Mawenzi (eastern) and Shira (West, the oldest).At Kibo has a volcanic crater with a diameter of 2.5 km.In addition, the top - the only one that is located above the snow-covered mountain area.Kibo looks like a nice smooth cone.This is the highest peak of Kilimanjaro, the height of the mountains on top of this reaches the designated level above 5895 m. The slopes of the volcano contain a large number of small volcanic cones (diameter - within a kilometer).The crater of Kibo continued to stand volcanic gases.
Flora and fauna
Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, is interesting for its local climate.When the Indian Ocean with the air masses come here, then sends them up the mountain.Form clouds from which rain falls or snow (type of precipitation depends on the height of the clouds).Kilimanjaro has several climatic zones, which are inhabited by a variety of species of flora and fauna.
on the lower slopes of the volcano grow crops.At about 2 km away are replaced by tropical forest.After another half kilometer up predominate heather, lichens, grasses, typical of alpine areas.Where the snow begins to live large animals - buffaloes, leopards.
Mastering Kilimanjaro person
People started to get used to the now legendary volcano only in the XIX century.The fact that in Africa there is a volcano, a place where Mount Kilimanjaro is located, told the world in 1848, a German pastor Johannes Rebman.In 1881, Count Heifers climbed to 2500 meters high, in a year - to 4200 meters, and in 1883 - at 5270 meters. In 1889, two researchers from Europe, German Hans Meyer and Austrian Ludwig Purtsheler, the first to reach the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro.Top of Mawenzi, however, has long been unconquered.Only in 1912 the European climbers managed to set foot on it.
Popular climbing routes
Tourists from all over the world dream of visiting Kilimanjaro.The highest mountain in Africa is incredibly attractive for mountaineers, both professionals and enthusiasts of amateur mountain climbing.There are several popular climbing routes, following which you can climb Kilimanjaro.Each of them is named the same as the location in the beginning of the way location.One of the most popular route begins in the village of Marangu.According to some climbers and hikers, it is not difficult to learn, even for beginners.However, the recognition of travelers, there is a reverse effect - on the route may be a very large number of people simultaneously.The route begins in the village of Masham, is widely regarded as the most beautiful.But it is not suitable for everyone, but only for those who have no problems with acclimatization to the mountain climate.
most difficult route starts in the village Umbwe.It is suitable only for professional conquerors of mountain tops.If the tourist is interested in mountain biking, then it is possible to try the route that begins in the village of Shire.For those who like to enjoy the beauty of nature is suitable path starting at the village Rongai.The route, which passes through an area where people are very rarely, where nature is revealed in its full splendor, begins in the village of Loytokitok.
Kilimanjaro movie
volcano Kilimanjaro, which is an incredible range of flora and fauna, which is filled with stunning natural beauty, could not go unnoticed by filmmakers.For many filmmakers, especially Hollywood, Mount Kilimanjaro, which is recognized by the photo even without signatures and explanations - a place that enjoys almost more popular than, for example, the Statue of Liberty in New York or the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
can remember films by overseas producers, which fly over the mountain aliens spaceships.You may recall how Lara Croft was looking at Mount Pandora's box.Known very many facts - about Kilimanjaro lived Pride, headed by King Leo.
Kilimanjaro literature
greatness Kilimanjaro were captured and minds of the famous writer.The most famous literary work associated with the volcano - the short story "The Snows of Kilimanjaro," written by Ernest Hemingway.It was first published in Esquire magazine in 1936.The plot of the story - Harry Smith travel writer in Africa.The writer went on safari.There Harry suffered a setback - he was wounded in the leg and had contracted gangrene.He and his wife Ellen live in a tent at the foot of Kilimanjaro.Harry often reminisces about his life, about the war.He tries to find answers to philosophical questions - for which he lived, what good did.The infection is incurable gangrene, and Harry Smith dies.Based on the story of the same name was filmed movie.
Features climbing
Despite the fact that the highest mountain Kilimanjaro has not been able to submit to the people in the XIX-XX centuries, today, to climb it can, perhaps, any person who is not experiencing breathing problems in the mountains and the differential pressure of the atmosphere.Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, as noted by some tourists on certain routes may take only a few hours.For example, an athlete Kilian millstone Burgada from Catalonia to conquer the summit of the volcano in 5 hours 23 minutes.
course, chasing the results of such an inexperienced person can not afford, but to meet the day is possible.Hikers and tourists, lovers, regardless of the route chosen, will see a unique picture: a succession order of seven dissimilar climatic zones - equatorial, then subekvatorialnoho, followed by tropical and subtropical after - moderate and, finally, sub-polar and even polar.
Kilimanjaro Glaciers
Mount Kilimanjaro is interesting because it is one of the few places in Africa where there is snow even in summer.On top of the volcano there are vast arrays of white.Basically, it's not even the snow and glaciers.Scientists, geologists have a version that the ice cover of the volcano could soon disappear.The researchers recorded that in the early twentieth century, the area of glaciers began to decline.In one of the research papers estimated that from 1912 to 2007, the scale of the reduction was 85% - from 12 square kilometers to 2. According to the study, decreased not only the area, but also the thickness of the ice.One reason for this state of affairs is called environmental pollution and, as a result of global warming.Environmentalists fear that as soon as the glaciers melt, it will cease to receive natural nutrition several mountain rivers, which could endanger the ecosystem in the area of the mountain.There is another version that says that the glaciers are still stable.It is based on the words of the locals, who did not observe any visible change in the white covers of the volcano.At the same time the stability of glaciers, according to some researchers, could help to advance planting trees around Kilimanjaro.Because of this, the impact of global warming has decreased.In addition, the planted trees absorb the water from the clouds that surround the mountain and feed, thus the biosphere below.
Interesting facts
- highest point of Kilimanjaro (height of the mountain, as already noted - 5895 meters) - the peak Ukhta.This figure - a record for the mountains of Africa and fourth in the world.
- Kilimanjaro last eruption was 100 thousand. Years ago.
- Mountain is located right on the border of two countries - Kenya and Tanzania.But those tourists who want to climb Kilimanjaro should drive up to the mountain is from Tanzania - according to the agreement between the two countries.
- The first historical mention of the Kilimanjaro refer to the II century BC.e.
- Cash receipts from the organization for foreign tourists hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro - one of the conditions of stability of the economy of Tanzania.There is evidence that Kilimanjaro is visited by about 40 thousand. People a year.On average, each tourist spends in the country of more than 1 thousand. $.
Kenya or Tanzania?
first question asked by tourists planning a trip to Kilimanjaro: Where is the mountain?Answer: geographically - in Tanzania.But there is an option in which to get to this wonderful place and can be through Kenya.What are the differences, advantages and disadvantages of traveling by a specific country?According to some experts the tourism industry and the tourists themselves, in Kenya, a development of hotel infrastructure and service.
There is a version that it is due to the fact that Kenyans are much more attracted to the study of the English language than their neighbors.And because communication with foreigners they are lighter.In 1977, Tanzania made an attempt to pick up the main stream of tourists to the Kilimanjaro to himself, closing the border with Kenya.But nothing happened, the profit was not sufficient.The border was opened.According to the observation of some tourists Tanzanians - people are more friendly and tuned to the informal communication.Kenyans also businesslike and rational.
