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Jesse Carson High School, Kress Venture Drive, China Grove, NC, USA

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Jesse Carson High School, Kress Venture Drive, China Grove, NC, USA

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Jesse Carson High School, Kress Venture Drive, China Grove, NC, USA

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Go Cougars!

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Be sure to zoom in very close in order to see the volcano from satellite view!
To find out more about the Great Rift, go northeast!

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Resource

ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY

Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's tallest mountain and the world's largest free-standing mountain.

Subjects

Earth Science, Geology, Geography, Physical Geography

Image

Mount Kilimanjaro

Located in Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is the African continent's highest peak at 5,895 meters (19,340 feet). The majestic mountain is a snow-capped volcano.

Photograph by W. Robert Moore, courtesy of the National Geographic image collection

Located in Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's tallest mountain at about 5,895 meters (19,340 feet). It is the largest free-standing mountain rise in the world, meaning it is not part of a mountain range.

Also called a stratovolcano (a term for a very large volcano made of ash, lava, and rock), Kilimanjaro is made up of three cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. Kibo is the summit of the mountain and the tallest of the three volcanic formations. While Mawenzi and Shira are extinct, Kibo is dormant and could possibly erupt again. Scientists estimate that the last time it erupted was 360,000 years ago. The highest point on Kibo's crater rim is called Uhuru, the Swahili word for "freedom." The mountain is also known for its snow-capped peak; however, scientists warn that the snow might disappear within the next 20 years or so.

In 1889, German geographer Hans Meyer and Austrian mountaineer Ludwig Purtscheller became the first people on record to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro. Since then, Kilimanjaro has become a popular hiking spot for locals and tourists. Because mountaineering gear and experience is not needed to reach the peak, tens of thousands of climbers ascend the mountain each year. The climb is still dangerous, however, because of the risk of altitude sickness-a condition climbers experience if they ascend too quickly, which can be deadly if not treated right away.

In 1973, the mountain and its six surrounding forest corridors were named Kilimanjaro National Park in order to protect its unique environment. The park was named a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site in 1987. A variety of animals live in the area surrounding the mountain, including the blue monkey ( Cercopithecus mitis).

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Tyson Brown, National Geographic Society

Author

National Geographic Society

Production Managers

Gina Borgia, National Geographic Society

Jeanna Sullivan, National Geographic Society

Program Specialists

Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society, National Geographic Society

Margot Willis, National Geographic Society

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ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's tallest mountain and the world's largest free-standing mountain. Earth Science, Geology, Geography, Physical Geography Image Mount Kilimanjaro Located in Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is the African continent's highest peak at 5,895 meters (19,340 feet). The majestic mountain is a snow-capped volcano. Photograph by W.

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West Africa is geographically
divided into desert, savannah, and
forest. The northern desert and
savannah regions are dry and
largely unsuitable for farming, so
they are home to a variety of herders and traders. In these regions, Islam is widely
practiced. In the southern forest regions of West Africa, farming is a more common economic activity than herding. A combination of factors allowed the people of West Africa to develop large civilizations and extensive trading relationships long before the arrival of Europeans. First, their use of iron tools allowed them to cultivate more extensively, increasing the size of their settlements. Second, an abundance of natural resources, like gold, which were very early on in demand by their European and Arab neighbors, created trade opportunities which brought wealth into the
region. Trans-Saharan trade fueled the growth of the Kingdom of Ghana, as well as
the empires of Mali and Songhay in the 11th through the 13th centuries.
Go southeast from here to find central Africa!

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Nelson Mandela's Grave, Mthatha, South Africa

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Nelson Mandela's Grave, Mthatha, South Africa

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Nelson Mandela's Grave, Mthatha, South Africa

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Nelson Mandela, author of our recently-studied "I Am Prepared to Die" passed away in December, 2013,

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Like other parts of Africa, southern Africa has had a long and tumultuous history
since colonization. Prior to European conquest, southern Africa was host to a number of kingdoms, including the Sotho Kingdom, Zulu Kingdom, and the kingdom of Great Zimbabwe. These kingdoms rose and fell as they skirmished with neighbors
for land and trading rights. The
arrival of Europeans put more
pressure on the already fractured
groups. As settlers scrambled for
land and resources, native
peoples were caught in the middle, often killed or forced into slavery. A strong sense of white superiority pervaded the area and lasted into the late 20th century in the form of harsh segregation policies like apartheid.

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Central Africa is a region of lush rain forests. Its modern day countries include
Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic. The
people of these regions are historically farmers, although many today live and work
in large cities. Central Africa was the gravely misrepresented setting of Joseph
Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness, which portrayed the area at the time as
primitive and sparsely populated. By the time of Conrad’s novella, the area had
already established over 400 years of contact and trade with Europeans, starting in
1482 when Portuguese explorer Diego Cão discovered the River Congo.
Additionally, Christianity was widely practiced throughout the region by the time of
Conrad’s novella, and the Kingdom of Kongo had been in existence as the central
power for nearly 500 years.
Head directly south from here to get to South Africa.

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Just south of Egypt, East Africa is an area of stunning geography and diverse
peoples. The East African Rift, or Great Rift Valley, cuts through the length of the
region from north to south. This geographic trench is 3,700 miles long and can be
viewed from space. It has yielded some of the most groundbreaking finds in the
study of human evolution, including the discovery of “Lucy” a 3 million year old
australopithecine skeleton of a human ancestor. In modern day, East Africa is home
to large cities and small bands of nomadic cattle herders, such as the Maasai
people. Economically, it is the meeting point of Arab, Asian, and African traders.
To learn about North Africa, go further north! If you run into the Pyramid of Giza, you went too far!

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The Great Pyramid of Giza, Nazlet El-Semman, Al Haram, Egypt

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The Great Pyramid of Giza, Nazlet El-Semman, Al Haram, Egypt

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The Great Pyramid of Giza, Nazlet El-Semman, Al Haram, Egypt

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Go left and a bit south to find out about West Africa!

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As early as 3100 B.C.E., North
Africa was home to the Ancient
Egyptians. This area north of the
Sahara has maintained a long and
continuous association with
Europe and the Arab world. As a
result, a large number of modern
day North Africans practice Islam
and have physical characteristics
that resemble southern Europeans and people of Arab descent. The countries of
North Africa have largely urban populations.

Zoom in on the link to the north to see an overhead view of the Great Pyramid of Giza!

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This continent is the second largest continent behind Asia. It contains 54 countries and the 1,000 languages. Africa can
be divided into five distinct regions based on common cultural and geographic features: north, east, central, southern, and west.
Zoom in on the marker to the northeast to see Mount Kilimanjaro!