This archive report was first published on 3 September 2019.
Seven interesting facts about Mount Kilimanjaro ¶
Published on September 3, 2019
Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's tallest mountain, standing at 20,000 feet, and is one of the seven summits. Located in North East Tanzania, the majestic mountain can also be seen from the Amboseli National Park in Kenya.
Standing at 5895 meters above sea level, Mount Kilimanjaro is a gentle giant that boasts a height of 5895 meters above sea level. It was formed millions of years ago as a result of hardened lava flow after volcanic eruptions.
The mountain has three volcanic cones, namely Shira, Mawenzi, and Kibo, which are a mixture of dormant and extinct. Mawenzi and Shira are considered extinct because they have not erupted for over ten thousand years, while Kibo is dormant and could possibly erupt again.
Mount Kilimanjaro is more than just a natural feature that stands in Tanzania. It holds a lot of significance for the nation as a whole and to the locals that reside around it. When Tanzania became independent from British colonial rule in 1961, then president Julius Nyerere announced that the national flag and torch be put on the mountain peak, symbolizing hope, love, freedom, and dignity for the people of Tanzania.
Every year, more than twenty thousand climbers attempt to make it to Uhuru peak, the highest point on the mountain. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is a popular challenge among climbers, and it takes them six days on average to reach the peak. Success rates vary due to many factors, and many people fail to reach the peak because of altitude-related complications and other underlying conditions.
However, reaching the mountain's peak has been described as life-changing by many climbers. It gives you a sense of fulfillment and creates a lifetime's worth of memories. The mountain has been climbed by people from all walks of life, including people with different forms of disabilities, and many have successfully reached Uhuru peak with very little assistance from others.
Unfortunately, Mount Kilimanjaro's snow caps have been melting due to climatic changes, and the water sources are drying up. The mountain is one of the region's most important water sources, and the impact of this is severe. Governments have been making an effort to reforest the mountain in order to revive it and reduce the risk of water shortages.
Mount Kilimanjaro has had some interesting visitors over the years that have broken Guinness World Records. In 2016, Pizza Hut broke the world record for the highest pizza delivery on land, and there have also been records broken for the world's highest football match and highest cricket match by athletic teams.
