Africa is an exotic continent for many residents of Eurasia. There are huge deserts and savannahs, unusual animals are found and amazing plants grow. Do you know what are the highest mountains in Africa? The names of some of them are remembered to us by the school curriculum, others are completely unknown.
general description
The main feature of the continent is that the high mountains are not in folded structures. For example, the highest mountain in Africa is located on the East African Plateau. In the north-west and south of the continent, folded mountains rise - the Atlas and Cape. The Ethiopian (Abyssinian) plateau is located in the northeast, the Aberdar Range is in the very center of the continent, the Drakensberg Mountains are in the south, and the Akhaggar in the northwest. In addition, Africa is famous for active and extinct volcanoes (Kilimanjaro and Cameroon).
The highest mountain in Africa - Kilimanjaro
This huge mountain range consists of three extinct volcanoes nowadays - Mawenzi (5129 m), Shira (3962 m), and Kibo (5895 m). Accordingly, the height of the highest mountain in Africa is considered to be 5895 meters. The array is located on the Masai Plateau. Today, scientists do not have documentary evidence that in ancient times there was volcanic activity, only legends speak of this. In the Kilimanjaro area, only periodic gas emissions resemble volcanism today. However, shifts and landslides have been recorded in the past.
The highest mountain in Africa is famous for its ice cap, since the peak has been covered by glaciers for many millennia. Today, many scientists are worried that this huge snow cap may disappear in the coming decades. Probably, their fears are not groundless - over the past 100 years, the cap has decreased in volume by almost 80%. This is not a consequence of an increase in temperature, but depends on a decrease in the amount of snow falling in the region.
The highest mountain in Africa was discovered in 1848 by German pastor Johannes Rebman. For the first time, the Hungarian count SamuelTeleki tried to conquer the summit, but she only obeyed in 1889 the German traveler Hans Meyer and his companion - mountain climber from Austria Ludwig Purtscheler.
Mount Kenya
This is not the highest mountain in Africa, however, its height reaches 5199 meters. Mount Kenya is an extinct stratovolcano and one of the most popular peaks of the African continent among climbers. It is located in Mount Kenya National Park, founded in 1949 to protect the surrounding area.
Most often, ascents to this mountain are carried out to its three peaks - Batian, Nelion and Point Lenan. From a technical point of view, Point Lenana, located in the southeast of the massif, is considered the most affordable and simple.
Scientists believe that about two million years ago - Mount Kenya was an active volcano. There is a version that in those days it was higher than Kilimanjaro.
In 1849, it was discovered by the German missionary Johann Krapf, and after 34 years the explorer J. Thompson confirmed it, having reached its foot from the west.
Cameroon
This mountain is considered the highest in Central Africa. Its height is 4070 meters. Currently, it still exhibits volcanic activity. The last eruption of Cameroon was recorded in 2000. The top of the mountain is far from always covered with snow, only occasionally a hat appears on it. The volcano has other names - Fako and Mongo ma Ndemi - as the local population calls it.
The Portuguese sailors discovered this volcano - members of an expedition that was looking for a way to India through Africa. He conquered the peak in 1861 by Richard Francis Burton.
Ethiopian Highlands
It is located in the north-east of the continent, in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and partly in the north of Somalia. The highest point is considered Mount Ras Dashen. Its height is 4550 meters. In the east and south, the ledges of the highlands are steep. They descend into deep valleys. The western ledges are stepped in shape, cut by the deep canyons of the Blue Nile. The valleys divide the highlands into separate arrays (ambas). Ethiopian highlands comprise gneisses, crystalline schists, volcanic rocks are higher.
In the highlands there is a monsoon climate, which allows you to grow coffee tree, rye and wheat here. In addition, there are many minerals - gold, platinum, sulfur, copper and iron ores. Brown coal, limestone and gypsum are mined here.
Atlas Mountains
This mountain range is located in the northwest of the continent. For a long time it was believed that it stretches from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in Morocco to the very shores of Tunisia. Today it is established that it stretches for 2,300 km from Cape Sirtov to Kotey.
The Atlas Mountains separate the Sahara Desert from the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. They are composed of numerous ridges. The highest point of this massif is Mount Tubkal (4167 m).