Following is a list of ten interesting facts on Mt Kilimanjaro. These are a selection of details I found from a variety of sites whilst doing my Google searches.
- Mt Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free standing mountain in the world. It rises majestically above the African Plains of Tanzania to 19,340 feet (5,895 meters) above sea level.
Note: For those of you who live in Townsville, this translates "close to" 10 times higher than Mt Stuart or 20 times higher than Castle Hill :-)
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- Whilst entirely in Tanzania, Kilimanjaro stands on Tanzania's northern border with Kenya. Located 205 miles South of the equator in Kilimanjaro National Park (a 756 square kilometre UNESCO World Heritage Site).
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- Kilimanjaro is composed of three distance volcanic cones;
Kibo 19,340 feet (5,895 meters)
Mawenzi 16,896 feet (5,149 meters)
Shira 13,000 feet (3,962 meters)
Uhuru Peak is the highest summit on Kibo's crater rim and the summit point of this climb.
Mawenzi and Shira are extinct but Kibo, the highest peak, is dormant and could erupt again.
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- Kilimanjaro supports five major ecological zones;
Rainforest / Tropical Jungle
Heath
Moorland
Alpine Desert
Arctic Summit / Glaciers
It is one of the few places on earth that encompasses every ecological life zone.
On the summit of Kilimanjaro there are 2.2 square kilometers of glacial ice and this is disappearing quickly due to global warming. The glaciers have shrunk by 82% since 1912 and declined 33% since 1989. Scientists believe it may be ice free within 20 years. I'm going to see those glaciers!
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- The temperatures on Mount Kilimanjaro are determined by the altitude and time of day.
The climb takes you from tropical temperatures on the first two days to below zero by the time you summit.
At the beginning of the climb, the average temperature is around 21C to 27C .... now that sounds pleasant enough :) From there, the temperature will decrease as you move through each of the ecological zones. At the summit, Uhuru Point, the night temperatures can range between -18C to -26C.....yes those are minus signs! And not sounding quite as pleasant now :0
Once you are above 4,000 metres, for every 150 metres you ascend, the temperature drops by 1C. Add to that the wind chill factor......and that's where those big minus temps come into play.
Due to Mount Kilimanjaro's great height, the mountain creates it's own weather. It is extremely variable and impossible to predict. Therefore, regardless of when you climb, you should always be prepared for wet days and cold nights.
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- 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.
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- Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb and requires no mountaineering experience.
However, a popular web site quotes;
“Climbing Kilimanjaro is probably one of the most dangerous things you will ever do”
I say, let’s not dwell on that, crossing the road is also dangerous some days!
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- Average Annual Climbing Statistics:.
25,000 people attempt to summit annually
2/3rds are successful (around 16,600)
1,000 are evacuated off the mountain annually
10 average number of deaths annually.
The main cause of death is Altitude Sickness which can affect the weak and strong, the fit and unfit, it is indiscriminate. If you get it badly, your climb is over. Your guide will take you back down the mountain as quickly as possible or evacuate you if need be.
Kilimanjaro summit is well above the altitude at which Altitude Sickness in the form of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), or High Altitude Cerebrl Edema (HACE) can occur. All trekkers will suffer considerable discomfort, typically shortage of breath, hypothermia and throbbing headaches at the least.
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- Kilimanjaro has six common ascent routes to its highest summit;
Marangu Route
Machame Route
Rongai Route
Shira Route
Umbwe Route
Lemosho Route - with variation via the Western Breach and Crater Camp - this is the one I will be taking :).
and the Mweke Route as the descent route.
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- Nearly every climber who summits Uhuru Peak, the highest summit on Kibo’s crater rim, records his or her thoughts about the accomplishment in a book stored in a wooden box at the top.
Note: For those of you who live in Townsville, this translates "close to" 10 times higher than Mt Stuart or 20 times higher than Castle Hill :-)
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Kibo 19,340 feet (5,895 meters)
Mawenzi 16,896 feet (5,149 meters)
Shira 13,000 feet (3,962 meters)
Uhuru Peak is the highest summit on Kibo's crater rim and the summit point of this climb.
Mawenzi and Shira are extinct but Kibo, the highest peak, is dormant and could erupt again.
.
Rainforest / Tropical Jungle
Heath
Moorland
Alpine Desert
Arctic Summit / Glaciers
It is one of the few places on earth that encompasses every ecological life zone.
On the summit of Kilimanjaro there are 2.2 square kilometers of glacial ice and this is disappearing quickly due to global warming. The glaciers have shrunk by 82% since 1912 and declined 33% since 1989. Scientists believe it may be ice free within 20 years. I'm going to see those glaciers!
.
The climb takes you from tropical temperatures on the first two days to below zero by the time you summit.
At the beginning of the climb, the average temperature is around 21C to 27C .... now that sounds pleasant enough :) From there, the temperature will decrease as you move through each of the ecological zones. At the summit, Uhuru Point, the night temperatures can range between -18C to -26C.....yes those are minus signs! And not sounding quite as pleasant now :0
Once you are above 4,000 metres, for every 150 metres you ascend, the temperature drops by 1C. Add to that the wind chill factor......and that's where those big minus temps come into play.
Due to Mount Kilimanjaro's great height, the mountain creates it's own weather. It is extremely variable and impossible to predict. Therefore, regardless of when you climb, you should always be prepared for wet days and cold nights.
.
.
However, a popular web site quotes;
“Climbing Kilimanjaro is probably one of the most dangerous things you will ever do”
I say, let’s not dwell on that, crossing the road is also dangerous some days!
.
25,000 people attempt to summit annually
2/3rds are successful (around 16,600)
1,000 are evacuated off the mountain annually
10 average number of deaths annually.
The main cause of death is Altitude Sickness which can affect the weak and strong, the fit and unfit, it is indiscriminate. If you get it badly, your climb is over. Your guide will take you back down the mountain as quickly as possible or evacuate you if need be.
Kilimanjaro summit is well above the altitude at which Altitude Sickness in the form of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), or High Altitude Cerebrl Edema (HACE) can occur. All trekkers will suffer considerable discomfort, typically shortage of breath, hypothermia and throbbing headaches at the least.
.
Marangu Route
Machame Route
Rongai Route
Shira Route
Umbwe Route
Lemosho Route - with variation via the Western Breach and Crater Camp - this is the one I will be taking :).
and the Mweke Route as the descent route.
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