Mount Kenya (1)

Nestled amongst the diverse and vibrant landscape of Kenya stands the majestic Mount Kenya. Standing tall as the highest mountain in the country and the second highest in all of Africa, this stunning natural wonder boasts three highest peaks: Batian, Nelion, and Point Lenana. Located in the former Eastern and Central provinces, Mount Kenya towers above the intersection of six different counties, approximately 16.5 kilometers south of the equator and around 150 kilometers north-northeast of the capital city of Nairobi.

This breathtaking mountain is the result of a volcano that formed approximately three million years ago along the East African Rift. Before being covered in ice for thousands of years, Mount Kenya was a staggering 7,000 meters tall. The ice cap has since melted, leaving behind heavily eroded slopes and a plethora of valleys radiating out from the peak. There are currently 11 small glaciers on the mountain, although they are rapidly shrinking and may disappear completely by 2050. The forested slopes of Mount Kenya serve as a vital source of water for much of the surrounding area.

As one ascends Mount Kenya, they will encounter a variety of vegetation bands. The lower slopes are blanketed in a range of different types of forests, while the higher elevations are home to unique alpine species such as giant lobelias, senecios, and a local subspecies of rock hyrax. An area of 715 square kilometers around the center of the mountain was designated as a National Park and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. This park receives over 16,000 visitors each year, offering them the chance to immerse themselves in the natural beauty and rich history of Mount Kenya.

Established in 1949, Mount Kenya National Park was created to protect the area surrounding the mountain and to promote tourism for the local and national economies. The park is home to breathtaking scenic beauty and a diverse range of plant and animal life, making it a must-see destination for visitors to Kenya. In 1978, the park was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and in 1997 it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

To further preserve the natural beauty and biodiversity of Mount Kenya National Park, the government of Kenya has implemented a number of initiatives. One such project is the construction of an electric fence around the park, which helps to prevent animals from straying into surrounding small holdings and damaging crops. The fence, which is safe for both humans and animals, will be 450 kilometers long when completed, with 250 kilometers already in place as of 2021. The Rhino Ark Trust, a non-profit organization, has been instrumental in the construction of the fence.

Mount Kenya has long held cultural significance for the various ethnic groups living in its surrounding area. The Kikuyu, Ameru, Embu, and Maasai all consider the mountain to be an integral part of their history and traditions.

The Kikuyu, who reside on the mountain's southern and western sides, consider it to be the resting place of their god, Ngai or Mwene Nyaga. They believe that Gĩkũyũ, the father of their tribe, used to meet with Ngai on the mountain, making him the first person to ever ascend it. The Kikuyu people see Mount Kenya as Ngai's throne on earth and build their houses with doors facing the mountain as a sign of respect. The Kikuyu name for the mountain, Kirima Kĩrĩ Nyaga, translates to "the mountain that which has the Nyaga," with Nyaga meaning "ostriches" in reference to the mountain's white patches of snow.

The Embu people, who live to the southeast of Mount Kenya, also consider the mountain to be the home of their god, Ngai or Mwene Njeru. They build their houses with doors facing the mountain and believe it to be a sacred place. The Embu are closely related to the Ameru and Mbeere people, who occupy the east, north, and northwest slopes of the mountain. The Ameru are agriculturalists and are known for their fertile land. Their name for the mountain, Kirimara, means "mountain with white features."

The Maasai, who are semi-nomadic and graze their cattle on the land to the north of the mountain, believe that their ancestors came down from the mountain at the beginning of time. They call Mount Kenya Ol Donyo Keri, or "mountain of stripes," in reference to its dark shades as seen from the surrounding plains. In at least one Maasai prayer, the mountain is mentioned alongside other natural wonders such as the Ngong Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro.

Mount Kenya is a stratovolcano that was active during the Pliocene and Pleistocene periods. At its peak, the original crater of the mountain was thought to be over 6,000 meters tall, making it taller than Kilimanjaro. After the volcano became extinct, there were two major periods of glaciation on the mountain, which left behind two main rings of moraines beneath the glaciers. The lower slopes of the mountain have never been glaciated and are now primarily used for farming and forestry. The higher elevations of the mountain, now covered in moorland, have U-shaped valleys with flatter bottoms that were created by glaciation.

The rocks that make up Mount Kenya are primarily basalts, rhomb porphyrites, phonolites, kenytes, and trachytes. Kenyte, a type of rock found on the mountain, was first described by scientist Joseph Gregory in 1900. The geology of the Mount Kenya area was first studied by Europeans in 1883 by Joseph Thomson, who believed the mountain to be an extinct volcano with an exposed plug. However, his theory was not widely accepted until 1893, when Gregory's expedition confirmed that the volcano was indeed extinct and that there were glaciers present on the mountain. A thorough survey of the mountain was not conducted until 1966.

The peaks of Mount Kenya are mostly of volcanic origin, with the highest ones located near the center of the mountain. These peaks have a craggy, alpine appearance and are characterized by their steep, pyramidal shape. The highest peaks on the mountain are Batian, Nelion, and Pt Lenana, with Coryndon Peak being the next highest. Other notable peaks in the area include Pt Piggot, Pt Dutton, Pt John, Krapf Rognon, Pt Peter, Pt Slade, Midget Peak, Terere, Sendeyo, The Hat, Delamere Peak, Macmillan Peak, and Rotundu. The vegetation on these peaks varies based on their elevation, with the highest peaks being covered in only small alpine plants and the lower peaks having thicker vegetation such as ash and soil.