Kilimanjaro 2006 - Fact File
Random Fact: |
The oldest person to reach the summit was a Frenchman named Valtee Daniel. |
| Introduction: | The highest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, Kilimanjaro is an ancient volcano which now lies dormant. One of its greatest draws is its accessibility. With no technical climbing needed to reach the summit, it is open to trekkers. |
| Height: | 5,895m (19,335ft) |
| Vertical Asscent: | Kilimanjaro rises steeply out of the African plains at an altitude of approximately 1,700m. The vertical ascent to the summit is therefore a huge 4,195m. |
| Location: | Northern Tanzania near Kenyan border, East Africa. |
| Climate: | Kilimanjaro lies 3 degrees south of the equator so the temperature remains consistently high at the base of the volcano ranging from 25 to 30° C. However due to the altitude the temperature plummets into negative figures towards the summit. Clearly part of the interest of the climb is the challenging temperature variation. |
| Topography: | The other great interest of the climb is the topographical variation. The route to the summit passes through no less than five ecological zones: the cultivated slopes of the lower mountain; tropical rain forest; heath and moorland; alpine desert; and the ice capped summit. |
| Photos: | Rain forest of the lower slops Alpine desert on the slopes approaching the crater rims Ice fields and glaciers of the upper mountain |
