19 Mount Kenya Facts: Explore The Second-Highest Mountain In Africa

Mount Kenya is not only the second-highest peak of Africa but also the highest mountain peak of Kenya.

Mount Kenya has three distinct peaks with all of them differing by a few meters, the highest of all is Batian at an elevation of 17,057 ft (5,199 m) from sea level. This mountain is located in the central and eastern parts of Kenya.

Mount Kenya is a stratovolcano that came into existence after the East Africa rift opened up around three million years ago. The mountain is also home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is a combination of the Mount Kenya National Park and the forest reserve which encircles the park.

Unique Features About Mount Kenya

The wilderness, glaciers, mineral springs, endangered animal species, and many other features make Mt Kenya unique and one of its kind. The extinct volcano has now a total of 12 glaciers on it but they are receding at a quick rate and might not exist by 2050.

Did you know, the longest and largest river of Kenya, Tana, originates from Mt Kenya.

Mount Kenya has often been regarded as one of the most iconic landscapes of Central Kenya, owing to the glacier-covered summit and forest cover in the midsection.

Mount Kenya is often referred to as the 'Place of Light.' At the same time, there are local communities that believe that God resided on the peak of the mountain to perform certain rites.

Scientific evidence says that at one point, before the melting of glaciers due to global warming, Mount Kenya was even higher than Mount Kilimanjaro with an elevation of around 23,000 ft (7,000 m).

Highest Points Of Mount Kenya

The majority of the highest peaks of Mount Kenya have a volcanic origin and are located in the central areas of the mountain. Interestingly, most of the higher peaks of Mount Kenya occur in the alpine zone usually at the intersection of ridges.

Batian, Nelion, and Point Lenana are the three peaks that are considered highest on Mount Kenya in descending order.

Batian is the highest point of Mount Kenya located at 17,057 ft (5,199 m) above sea level.

Nelion and Point Lenana have an elevation of 17,021 ft (5,188 m) and 16,355 ft (4,985 m) respectively.

There is only a gap of 820 ft (250 m) between the peaks of Nelion and Batian.

History And Formation Of Mount Kenya

Mt Kenya was formed several million years ago due to natural processes and adopted the shape of a symmetrical cone.

It is believed that there was a vent in the surface of Earth which led to the eruption of successive lava layers eventually going on to form Mount Kenya.

Mount Kenya was earlier known as Kirinyaga and Kinyaa which eventually led to the nation's name becoming Kenya.

In 1849, Mt Kenya was viewed for the first time by a European. He was a German missionary, Dr. Johann Ludwig Krapf.

Since the expedition of Gregory to Lewis Glacier in 1893, and the successful ascent to the top in 1899, there has been a lot of interest in climbing this mountain.

There are various walking routes to the main peak you can choose for such as the Chogoria route and the Sirimon route, which moves towards Mt Kenya from the northwest.

People who look to reach Point Lenana usually opt for the Naro Moru route. Interestingly, expeditions to Mount Kenya which took place from 1900 to 1930 usually opted for the normal route.

Location And Size Of Mount Kenya

Mount Kenya is situated in the Kenyan highlands in the center of the African nation. Although the lower slopes of this mountain receive precipitation in the form of rain, at higher elevations the peaks are covered in snow owing to the altitude level.

The peak of Mt Kenya happens to be the intersection point of various counties such as Kirinyaga, Meru, Laikipia, Embu, Nyeri, and several others as well.

Mount Kenya has a massive size with a base diameter of around 74.56 mi (120 km).

Mount Kenya is located in the northeast direction of Nairobi at a distance of around 90 mi (150 km).

Interestingly, the temperature of Mount Kenya differs with its levels as the lower alpine zones usually have a temperature of around 54 F (12 C) but towards the top, it gets a lot colder nearing the 14 F (-10 C) mark.

Mount Kenya is situated towards the north of the equator at a distance of 55.87 mi (90 km). At the same time, it is not very far from the capital of Kenya, Nairobi.

FAQs

What is unique about Mt Kenya?

The glaciers, mineral springs, lakes, some native animal, and plant species make Mount Kenya unique from its other nearby peaks.

How was Mount Kenya formed?

Mt Kenya was formed around 2.5-3 million years ago by the eruption of agglomerates and lava from the Earth's surface.

What was Mount Kenya named after?

The name 'Mount Kenya' is derived from the name 'Kirinyaga,' which locals used to refer to a snow-capped peak.

Why does Mount Kenya have snow?

Peaks of Mt Kenya are at a staggering elevation of more than 16,404 ft (5,000 m) due to which they receive precipitation in the form of snow.

How cold does it get on Mount Kenya?

In the lower levels the temperature is around 54 F (12 C) but as the elevation rises, the temperature drops.

What is the temperature at the top of Mount Kenya?

Near the top peaks, the temperature is at times as low as 14 F (-10 C).