Volcano in Tanzania. Kilimanjaro volcano Tanzania. Tanzania is a country of volcanoes. The volcano is extinct, but life is in full swing

Kilimanjaro is a word familiar to us from childhood, also known from the stories of the writer Hemingway. Every tourist and traveler dreams of seeing with his own eyes the “crown of Tanzania” at least once in his life, and maybe even climbing to its top, to an unreal height, into the kingdom of eternal snow (by the way, it is she who appears in “The Lion King”). Let's take a closer look at Tanzania's most famous landmark, Africa's tallest mountain, which the locals call "the sparkling peak," Kilimanjaro.

Location of Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro is not really a mountain, as many people believe, it is a dormant volcano, it was formed from a huge number of layers of tephra, frozen lava flows and ash. According to scientists, Kilimanjaro was formed as a result of the movement of layers of the earth's crust millions of years ago. So, it is located in Tanzania, in East Africa and rises 5895 meters above sea level.

Animals of Kilimanjaro

The enormous size of this volcano has created a unique and amazing climate that cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. Here you can see many small rivers and streams; they are formed when glaciers melt. In the lower part there is a spacious savannah, here you can find funny monkeys, a family of leopards and lions, servals, funny and slightly clumsy honey badgers, huge elephants, giraffes, zebras and many small rodents. In addition to the diverse animal world, Mount Kilimanjaro boasts mountain swamps and endless meadows, which are strewn with flowers and lush herbs, and a little up the mountains, a real African desert begins, where only lichens, moss and cacti reign.

Kilimanjaro weather and climate

Since the mountain is located almost on the equator of our globe, the weather is almost always good here, so nothing will interfere with your ascent, with the exception of the rainy season, when quite a lot of precipitation falls in this area. Experienced travelers say that the best time for climbing is from August to October, and from January to March, when the weather is warm and clear.

The peculiarity of Mount Kilimanjaro is that in its example you can see all types of climate on our planet, at the base you will be greeted by the humid tropics, and as you climb an arid desert, a dank hill with endless cold winds and, finally, a snow-capped peak where it never melts snow. Therefore, if you still decide to climb the mountain, prepare for sudden changes in temperature: from + 30, to +15, 0 and minus temperatures, it all depends on the level of ascent, time of year and route.

Tours to Mount Kilimanjaro

If you decide to visit Kilimanjaro National Reserve, the first thing you need to do is find the town of Moshi, it is the closest to the reserve. There you can easily find
a travel agency that cooperates with the reserve and buy a tour. A professional guide, personal porter and cook will gladly accompany you on your adventure. As they say, every whim is for your money. But the sensations and incredible views that await you at the top are worth your money, your work, and several days of travel. You will be able to see the inner crater of the volcano, eternal ice, and also enjoy the stunning scenery of the valley and the reserve. In addition, the tourist will be able to easily see the seven trails along which the climb to the most unique attraction of Tanzania occurs.

Video: Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

The most interesting routes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro

The first conquerors of Kilimanjaro were Hans Meyer and Ludwig Purtscheller, this happened more than 100 years ago in 1889. Since then, experienced climbers have laid out more than a dozen routes, which differ in the complexity of the climb and the level of mountaineering training; there are trails for beginners and real pros. If you still decide to conquer this peak, then the total time, which includes ascent and descent, will take approximately 5 to 9 days. And now we present to your attention the most interesting and popular routes for climbing Kilimanjaro.

Lemosho Trail

Lemosho is located on the western part of the mountain, it is considered the most suitable for acclimatization of tourists in the area. Climbing this route is more expensive than usual, so you won’t find a huge number of tourist groups here. The high cost is more than compensated by the amazingly beautiful views, because Lemosho is considered one of the most picturesque trails on Kilimanjaro.

Marangu Trail

Many people know this route under another name: the Coca-Cola route. It received this name during the first trips to the mountain, when tourists simply threw garbage along the side of the road, and most often it was plastic bottles of a well-known drink. Now the route is carefully monitored, garbage is systematically removed, sprinkled with gravel, and where the path passes through deep streams, small bridges have been built. The trail is located in the southeast of the mountain and is the most popular among tourists due to the ease of climbing. Moreover, this is the only
a route trail where stationary camps for overnight stays are located at various levels of ascent, where there are all the benefits of civilization: electricity, a toilet, a small canteen, a medical and rescue center.

Machame Trail

Machame is located on the western part of the mountain and is considered one of the most difficult to climb, with frequent ascents and descents, so it is popular only with experienced travelers and climbers. If you come to the Kilimanjaro Nature Reserve during the rainy season, it is better to use another trail, as the route is very eroded and dangerous for climbing.

Rongai Trail

Rongai is the only northern route, a narrow path leads to Kibo (the central volcano of Kilimanjaro), through one of the mountain peaks - Mawenzi. This is perhaps the least crowded route, but it is recommended for climbing during the rainy season, since this area has minimal rainfall and there is no strong wind.

Umbwe Trail

Umbwe runs along the southern side and is rightfully considered the most difficult route to climb. This is a short, winding and straight trail starting from Camp Barranco. The descent takes place along another trail - Mweka. Due to the rather sharp ascent, steep descents and dense jungle, you will have absolutely no time for acclimatization, so the route is intended only for strong travelers who are confident in their strength and body. Climbing Umbwe takes 5-6 days, but if you want to enjoy incredible views and wonderful nature, then spend 7-8 days on the route.

Mount Kilimanjaro is the heart of Africa, it is a stone giant, it is a real treasury of Tanzania. If you are ever lucky enough to travel around this African country, then do not miss the chance to take part in what is probably the most incredible and exciting adventure of your life, to appreciate the majestic thousand-year-old volcano and wild, untouched nature.

Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa at 5,899 meters. The mountain, or rather, an extinct volcano, is located in, and from all over the country on clear days the snow-capped cap on the flat top of the mountain is clearly visible, thanks to which it got its name - translated from Swahili as “sparkling mountain”.

The top of the mountain is actually a basin-crater on a volcano, which gives the mountain a unique shape - gentle slopes with an elongated peak. On hot days in Tanzania and Kenya, you can see how the snowy peak of Mount Kilimanjaro seems to float in the air - the foot of the mountain, bluish in color, merges with the horizon, which creates such an unusual illusion, enhanced by the clouds floating below the snow.

Mount Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro is one of the largest volcanoes in the world, covering an area of ​​almost four hundred thousand hectares. The mountain is almost 100 kilometers long and 64 kilometers wide. Although Kilimanjaro is located near the equator, its altitude allows it to form its own microclimate on the slopes and significantly influence the climate in the surrounding area: moist winds reach the mountain from the Indian Ocean, which bump into the mountains and release water in the form of rain.

Not surprisingly, the vegetation around and on the mountain is much more lush than in the surrounding semi-desert. But at the very top nothing can grow; there is eternal ice there - probably the only place in Africa where the ice never melts. But studies of Kilimanjaro's snow cap show that the ice is slowly and gradually receding, and the amount of rainfall falling over the mountain is not enough to replenish the water supply.

There are several versions about the reasons for this phenomenon: according to one of them, the volcano is reborn and warms up, causing the ice to melt, but most scientists agree that the reason is global warming. Be that as it may, if the current rate of glacier melting on Kilimanjaro continues, by 2200 there will be no snow cap on the mountain.

There are several seasons on Kilimanjaro: the season of tropical downpours (-), the dry season with anti-trade winds (May-) and the rainy season with monsoons (-). Even during the rainy seasons, it is possible to climb Kilimanjaro, in addition, there are some advantages - you can see more African exotic animals, and the rains do not interfere with climbing the mountain and taking beautiful pictures.

Kilimanjaro is actually made up of three volcanoes that have a complex history of eruptions. The oldest of them is Shira, located to the west of the main peak. In ancient times it was much higher, but a powerful eruption destroyed the top of the volcano, leaving a plateau reaching a height of 3,800 meters.

Between the ridge of the Shira volcano and the western slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro there is the Shira Plateau, which, according to scientists, is the caldera of an ancient volcano filled with lava. Volcano Mawenzi, the second oldest and highest, is located on the eastern side and rises to 5,334 meters. The youngest and highest volcano forming the summit of Kilimanjaro is called Kibo. It has an internal crater that is not visible from the outside. Uhuru Peak at its summit is the mountain's highest point, while Gilman's other peak attracts climbers from all over the world. On Kilimanjaro there is Lake Chapa, located thirty kilometers from the Kibo volcano. It occupies one of the craters two and a half kilometers deep.

History of the volcano

Today, Kilimanjaro is one of the most popular mountains on earth, with about twenty thousand travelers climbing it every year. But this does not diminish the mystical aura around this volcano - even cynical tourists agree that at the top you experience an amazing feeling of fear and triumph at the same time.

East Africa, as we know, is the cradle of humanity; it is here that the ancestors of people lived. But it is unlikely that they were attracted to the mountain; at that time an active volcano - primitive man most likely lived in fear of the majestic peak with cold slopes. Since then, numerous legends have emerged about the power of this mountain.

In the vicinity of Kilimanjaro lived the Wachagga people, who told the story of two brothers Mawenzi and Kibo. The elder Mawenzi obtained fire for his pipe from his younger brother. Since the Wachagga tribe appeared in the area of ​​​​the mountain not so long ago, scientists suggest that this means that Kilimanjaro has been recently active.

Another legend tells of evil spirits and demons living on the mountain and guarding treasures. One of the African rulers decided to conquer Kilimanjaro in order to take the wealth for himself, but along the way his accompanying people died or froze their limbs. Since ancient times, the areas of Mombasa were visited by Chinese and Arab merchants, who mentioned a huge mountain in Africa in the stories of their travels, but they did not dare to reach it. It was only in the 19th century that people began to show interest in the mountain, make ascents and try to measure it. In 1848, the missionary Rebmann became interested in Kilimanjaro, who organized several expeditions to the mountain. The results of his campaigns ended the debate about whether there is snow in Africa.

Climbing Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro is an easy mountain to climb; such a trip does not require physical or technical preparation. Training, of course, won't hurt, especially for people who don't play sports, but it's not necessary. It’s rare that tourists’ physical fitness prevents them from climbing a mountain; most often, the reasons for a failed climb are mountain sickness.

Therefore, during travel it is necessary to take a special drug that promotes rapid acclimatization. However, despite the height of Kilimanjaro (it is almost six thousand meters), the conditions on it are much milder than on other similar mountains: at the equator the layer of atmosphere is thicker and the pressure is higher than, for example, on Elbrus.

There are several routes leading to Kilimanjaro, all of which pass through the loop trail that circles the Kibo volcano. The choice is varied: from simple and pleasant to difficult but interesting routes. The most popular is the so-called “Coca-Cola Way” or Marangu, it takes no more than six days and does not require a tent camp, as there are three mountain huts along the way. The most difficult route to climb is the Umbwe route, which passes through steep slopes with dense jungle and the Western Gap.

Kilimanjaro Park

Mount Kilimanjaro belongs to the Tanzanian national park of the same name. This park is a World Heritage Site. Besides the mountain, the main attraction of the park is the magnificent landscapes and stunning nature. At an altitude of up to three thousand meters above sea level, a tropical rainforest grows around Kilimanjaro; higher up there are picturesque meadows with red lichens and mosses.

The open plains are overgrown with heather, lobelias that resemble giant cacti, and ragworts. The flora of the mountain itself is also amazing: eight hundred species of plants grow on it, many of which are valuable and rare, such as sandalwood or ebony. Immortelle, acacia, edelweiss, and senecium grow here. The fauna of the park is also very rich: elephants, rhinoceroses, lions, buffalos, eland, leopards live on the northern slopes, and many species of monkeys live on the southern side. There are no less birds: buzzards, eagles, lambs, hornbills.

Tanzania: Mount Kilimanjaro!

In the northeast of Tanzania, among the desert plain, is the highest point in Africa - the majestic volcano Kilimanjaro (5,895 m).

It rises above the Masai plateau, which lies at an altitude of 900 meters above sea level.

The top of the dormant volcano is covered with a snow-white cap of snow, which sparkles impressively in the rays of the bright African sun.

Perhaps that is why the local population gave it such a name - Kilimanjaro, which translated from Swahili means "sparkling mountain"

In ancient times, the tribes inhabiting this area, who had never seen snow in their lives, were sure that it was covered with silver.

But for a long time they did not dare to check their assumptions, since many frightening legends were associated with the volcano, telling about evil spirits that lived on the top of Kilimanjaro and guarded its treasures.

And yet, after some time, the local leader sent a small detachment of the bravest warriors to conquer the mysterious peak.

Upon arrival, they immediately began to examine the “silver” lying everywhere, but, to everyone’s surprise, it instantly melted in their hands.

On the “sparkling mountain” there was nothing but eternal cold snow.

Then the aborigines, feeling the cold of the silvery ice cap, gave the giant volcano another name - “The Abode of the God of Cold.”

Many legends associated with Kilimanjaro have survived to this day.

Local residents believe that the top of the volcano is inhabited by gods, and the caves and ravines of the mountain are inhabited by pygmy gnomes who hunt and gather. Weather conditions, according to local beliefs, are associated with the mood of the evil spirits living on the mountain.

The beauty of Mount Kilimanjaro can be seen for many kilometers around the surrounding Tanzanian and Kenyan savannas.

Its outline is sloping slopes rising to an elongated, flat peak, which is in reality a giant 2-kilometer caldera - a vast basin at the peak of the volcano.

On very hot days, you can contemplate a fantastic picture: from a distance, the bluish base of the mountain becomes almost indistinguishable against the background of the savannah, and it seems that the snow-covered peak is floating in the air.

And the clouds floating around, often flying below the snow cap, enhance this effect.

The first mentions of huge snow-capped mountains come from the 2nd century AD. e. They were plotted on Ptolemy's geographical map.

However, the official date of the discovery of the “sparkling mountain” is considered to be May 11, 1848, when it first appeared before the eyes of the German pastor Johannes Rebmann. Since 1861, attempts to conquer the peak began: in the same year, a height of 2500 meters was conquered, in 1862 - 4200 meters, and in 1883-1884 and 1887 a point located at an altitude of 5270 meters was reached.

All these numerous ascents were made by the Hungarian Count Samuel Teleki. Already in October 1889, the German traveler Hans Meyer, in company with the Australian climber Ludwig Purtscheller, managed to reach the top of Kilimanjaro.

Kilimanjaro is a dormant, nearly conical volcano composed of multiple layers of tephra, solidified lava, and volcanic ash. According to scientists, it was formed as a result of several volcanic movements more than a million years ago.
It includes three main peaks, which are also extinct volcanoes: Shira (3962 m) located in the west, Mawenzi (5149 m) in the east, and in the central part there is the youngest and highest volcano - Kibo (5895 m), on which contains multiple cascades of ice terraces.

Uhuru Peak, located on the rim of the Kibo Crater, is the highest point on Kilimanjaro and all of Africa.

Volcano Kibo:

Kilimanjaro has had no documented eruptions, but according to local legends, the last major volcanic activity occurred approximately 150,000-200,000 years ago.

As a result of research carried out in 2003, scientists discovered the presence of lava just 400 meters below the crater of Kibo, Kibo, the highest peak of Kilimanjaro.

Although no negative predictions regarding volcanic activity have been made yet, gas emissions regularly occur at the top of the volcano, which can lead to its collapse, which in turn will cause a major eruption.

Kibo has experienced several landslides and landslides in the past, creating an area known as the “western gap.”
Today there is a lot of talk about global warming, which is contributing to the fact that the famous Kilimanjar glaciers are rapidly melting.

Scientists explain this phenomenon not by global warming, but by the falling level of daily precipitation, which is necessary to restore the glacial mass.

Some researchers believe that the volcano is awakening, resulting in its heating and, as a result, the melting of the ice cap.

The concern is that over the past 100 years, the amount of ice and snow covering Kilimanjaro has decreased by more than 80%.

In 2005, for the first time in 11 thousand years, their almost complete melting occurred.

At the current rate, the disappearance of Kilimanjaro's snow is expected to occur between 2022 and 2033.

Glacier on Kilimanjaro in 2007:

Kilimanjaro in 2012. View from above:

The area occupied by the volcano is 64 km wide and 97 km long.

Such enormous size allows Kilimanjaro to form its own climate.

At an altitude of about 4000 meters above sea level, you can find numerous small streams and rivers born in glaciers, which carry life-giving moisture to pastures and fields.
The world of flora and fauna in the Kilimanjaro region is extremely rich and diverse.

In the lower part of the mountain, at an altitude of up to 1000 meters, there are savannas inhabited by monkeys, leopards, servals and honey badgers.

Interestingly, on the lower slopes of the mountain there are coffee plantations and banana groves, and there are corn crops.

At an altitude of 1800 meters, the domain of humid equatorial forests begins.

The territory, located at an altitude of 2800-4000 meters, is covered by mountain swamps and meadows strewn with colorful flowers.

Here you can find animals such as giraffes, elephants, lions, as well as some rodents.

Starting at 4400 meters, closer to the top, the kingdom of the mountain desert begins, where only alpine lichens and mosses survive.

Above is a world of cold snow, in which only cold stone and ice can be seen.

Kilimanjaro Glacier at an altitude of 5800 meters:

On the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro live the Chaga mountaineers, who, like their ancient ancestors, are engaged in agriculture.

They are the ones who grow coffee and banana plantations in the local warm and moderately humid climate.
The territory of Kilimanjaro has the status of a National Park, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro has been particularly popular among outdoor enthusiasts for many years.

Today there are several tourist routes.

The most popular among them is Marangu or the “Coca-Cola Route,” which tourists cover in 5-6 days.

The presence of mountain shelters, which eliminate the need to pitch tents, greatly simplifies the task.

The "Whisky Route" or Machame is the most beautiful route, the duration of which is slightly longer than the previous one - 6-7 days.

The northern slope of the mountain has only one trail - Rongai.

On average, it takes tourists 5-6 days to overcome it.

The longest western route lies through the Shira plateau (5-6 days).

The Umbwe route is one of the most difficult - it runs through dense jungle, which requires some physical preparation.

When conquering Kilimanjaro, many tourists need adaptation to get used to the mountain climate and avoid altitude sickness.

Among the conquerors of Mount Kilimanjaro there are record holders.

In 2001, an Italian named Bruno Brunod completed the Marangu route in just five and a half hours.

In 2004, Simon Mtui, a native of Tanzania, climbed the difficult Umbwe Trail and descended to the Mweka Pass in just 8 hours and 27 minutes.

The Tanzanian did not stop there and two years later walked the Umbwe trail there and back in 9 hours 19 minutes.

The first women's record belongs to the Englishwoman Rebekah Rees-Evans, her result of climbing the Kilimanjaro peak is 13 hours 16 minutes.

The youngest conqueror of the huge volcano is the American Keats Boyd, who reached the summit at the age of seven.

The majestic volcano Kilimanjaro has been a muse for many creative individuals - books have been written about it, films have been made, songs have been dedicated to it.

Some of the most famous literary works that mention the African giant include Ernest Hemingway's story "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" (1936), Ray Bradbury's story "The Car to Kilimanjaro" (1965), and Olga Larionova's novel "The Leopard" from the top of Kilimanjaro" (1965).
Based on the book "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" in 1952, Henry King made a film of the same name. The famous volcano can be seen in the science fiction film “Independence Day” (1996) and in the film “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life” (2003).

To get to Mount Kilimanjaro, you first need to get to the largest city in Tanzania - Dar es Salaam. The next goal is the city of Moshi, located at the very foot of the volcano. The distance from Dar es Salaam to Moshi is 560-600 km, which is best covered by a bus leaving early in the morning to reach the final destination before nightfall.

The town has many cozy hotels that convey all the local flavor.

You can get to the mountain only with a special permit, which can be obtained by any of the travel agencies that exist in abundance in Moshi.

There they also help tourists organize their ascent by finding a suitable route, choosing a guide and time.

Volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai – is located in northern Tanzania in the Lake Natron region and is part of the Great Rift Valley volcanic system in East Africa. The height above sea level is 2962 m. The volcano is located in that part of the Rift Zone called the Syke Grid, where the earth's crust is believed to be especially thin. This is one of the most unusual volcanoes in the world. The only one that erupts natrocarbonate lava. The composition of the lava is such that it allows the volcano to explode at sufficiently low temperatures. The melt temperature is 510-600°C. This is the coldest and most liquid lava in the world, it flows along the ground like water. The color of hot lava is black or dark brown, but after a few hours of exposure to air, the carbonate melt becomes lighter, and after a few months it becomes almost white (so it is not snow, as it might seem at first glance). Frozen carbonate lavas are soft and brittle and easily dissolve in water, which is probably why geologists do not find traces of similar eruptions in ancient times.

In the sun, lava crystalline components (sodium carbonate) sparkle like diamonds. In the fog, on the contrary, lava becomes almost invisible - flowing down the slopes imperceptibly, it takes tourists by surprise, unexpectedly discovering their shoes on fire.

This unusual volcano is very active and erupts frequently, which is why the entire surrounding area within a radius of 100 kilometers is constantly covered in ash. In the neighborhood you can also see extinct volcanoes, which are brothers of Ol Doinio Lengai, but have not erupted black lava for a long time. Researchers report that when the volcano erupts, a thick black column of ash flies out to a height of about 1,000 meters.

The Maasai call Ol Doinyo Lengai "the mountain of the gods", its eruptions symbolize for them the wrath of the deity Yengai.

It is possible to climb the volcano. But you will have to overcome some minor difficulties. After about halfway through the route, progress becomes significantly slower as the legs slip backwards and sink. Walking at altitude like this is very exhausting. The trail was solidified lava, which was difficult and dangerous to walk on, and volcanic ash, in which your feet would sink up to your ankles. In some places, the layer of hardened lava reached half a meter deep, and in its thickness one could see grass, which a few years ago covered all the slopes up to the top. Closer to the top, a specific smell begins to be felt. A strong and cold wind blows at the top. And the descent is even more dangerous than the ascent.

The Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, located in the northern part of Tanzania, is active, but its first eruption was recorded only half a century ago. The local Maasai tribes call this volcano the Mountain of God.

Rising 2,962 meters above the African plains, from a distance Ol Doinyo Lengai looks like a lonely mountain covered in snow. However, the white color of its peak is explained by a completely different reason - it is the only volcano in the world whose lava is rich in carbonate materials.

As sodium carbonate hardens, it acquires a hue that misleads uninitiated people. This unusual composition makes the lava flowing out of the vent in slow, thick black streams almost twice as cold as normal.

Despite the relatively low temperature of the lava - about 500-600C - the threat of eruptions forces local residents to be constantly on alert. The last eruption was recorded in September 2007. The ashes then traveled a distance of 18 kilometers and reached nearby villages.

Due to the fact that the lava has a unique composition, when it hardens, it creates a unique landscape in the vicinity of Ol Doinyo Lengai, which cannot be seen in any other corner of the planet. The soft glow of lava flows at dusk, the black color that changes to brown when water hits, the top of the volcano wrapped in false snow is an unforgettable picture. It seems that it was not for nothing that the Maasai called this volcano the Mountain of God - after all, there is nothing similar to it anywhere on Earth, which means that the interest of tourists in this place will not dry up in the near future.

Volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai - PHOTO