Volcano in tanzania. Mount Kilimanjaro - the highest mountain in Africa

There is only one volcano in the world that erupts with carbonatite lava: Ol Donyo Lengai in Tanzania. This is not just another fact for boring scientists: this volcano is indeed a very unusual place that has no analogues in the world.

History of Ol Donyo Lengai Volcano

The volcano formed about 370 thousand years ago and is the youngest volcano in this part of the East African Rift. Of course, the locals idolize this gigantic volcano that rises high above the dry plains south of Lake Natron. There are many magnificent volcanoes in the East African Rift - the Meru Mountains and the Ngorongoro Crater are not too far away. But this volcano was special to the Maasai people - it was a sacred place called "Mountain of God" (Ol Doinoy Lengai).

This part of Africa was one of the last places explored by white people. The first European visitors to Ol Doinyo Lengai were German explorers in the late 19th century. This volcano is very active - every few years there is an eruption here. One of these eruptions in 1960 caught the attention of Canadian geologist John Barry Dawson, who was exploring this part of Tanzania. He and Ray Pickering descended into the crater (it was the first known descent into the crater) in October 1960 and immediately noticed that this volcano was very unusual. Shortly after the descent in 1962, his research was published - and the first and only active carbonatite volcano on Earth was discovered.

Since then, Ol Donyo Lengai has been a playground for geologists studying this unique natural wonder. Dawson himself continued the research until his death in 2013. Today the volcano is quite a popular tourist attraction. The strongest visitors climb the mountain under the heat of the equatorial Sun and try to get closer to the live volcanic activity. This is dangerous, since the strange volcano is unpredictable, and threats can arise unexpectedly even in seemingly calm places.

Almost all volcanoes on Earth erupt lava, which is composed of silicate minerals. Only a few of them erupted lava, which is more than 50% composed of carbonate minerals - carbonatite lavas. About 20 sites of former carbonatite volcanoes are known, but Ol Donyo Lengai is the only one that is now active.
The "Mountain of God" spews not only carbonatite lava - it produces a very specific, rare species: natrocarbonatite lava. It consists of carbonate minerals - very rare neurerate (Na2Ca (CO3) 2) and gregorite (Na2, K2, Ca) CO3. This material needs a much lower temperature to melt - this lava flows already at a temperature of 500-600 degrees C, and in the daytime does not even glow - it's just a black goo flow. In the darkness of the night, lava glows orange. Ordinary lavas have a temperature of around 1100 degrees C.

Carbonatite lava is also quite fluid compared to regular silicate lavas - it is the most fluid lava in the world, flowing almost like water - often faster than a person can run. The flow of this lava looks like dark oil, or brown muddy foam. As the lava hardens, it turns black, with crystals. But this is not for long: these carbonatite lavas quickly weather. After a few hours, the stone turns white due to moisture. If the weather is dry, the lava turns white within a few days. If it rains, the lava immediately turns white. Without a doubt, this is one of the most beautiful places in Tanzania.

This is caused by a chemical reaction similar to burning lime. In this regard, niereite and gregorite are very rare minerals that even in geological collections must be stored in an argon atmosphere. During this time, the white lava turns into a brown powder. After a few months, the lava is soft - the foot sinks into it when walking. Thus, the landscape of Ol Donyo Lengai is unique and has no analogues in the world.

Ol Doinyo Lengai is the only active volcano in Tanzania. It is very active and erupts lava with ash every few years. Sometimes, when the content of silicates in the lava increases, volcanic eruptions become explosive - such an eruption occurred in 2007-2008. Before these eruptions, there were many earthquakes - even the lions left the area. It was decided to evacuate people and their livestock to a safe distance from the volcano. During eruptions, the crater often forms forges - smaller hills and even towers that emit carbonatite lava. Lava sometimes forms short-lived lava lakes.

Volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai - is located in the north of Tanzania in the area of ​​​​Lake Natron and is part of the volcanic system of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa. Altitude - 2962 m. The volcano is located in that part of the Rift Zone, which is called the Sike Grid, where, as expected, the earth's crust is especially thin. This is one of the most unusual volcanoes in the world. The only one that erupts natrocarbonate lava. The composition of the lava is such that it allows the volcano to explode at sufficiently low temperatures. The melt temperature is 510-600°C. This is the coldest and most liquid lava in the world, it flows along the ground like water. The color of hot lava is black or dark brown, but after a few hours of exposure to air, the carbonate melt brightens, and after a few months it becomes almost white (so this is not snow - as it might seem at first glance). Hardened carbonate lavas are soft and brittle, easily soluble in water, which is probably why geologists do not find traces of similar eruptions in ancient times.

In the sun, the lava crystalline components (sodium carbonate) sparkle like diamonds. In the fog, on the contrary, the lava becomes almost invisible - imperceptibly flowing down the slopes, it takes tourists by surprise, unexpectedly finding their shoes on fire.

This unusual volcano is very active and often erupts, which is why the entire nearby territory within a radius of 100 kilometers is constantly covered with ash. In the neighborhood you can also see extinct volcanoes, which are brothers of Ol Doinio Lengai, but have not erupted black lava for a long time. Researchers report that when the volcano erupts, a thick black column of ash flies out to a height of about 1000 meters.

The Masai call Ol-Doinyo-Lengai "the mountain of the gods", its eruptions symbolize for them the wrath of the deity Yengai.

It is possible to climb the volcano. But you have to overcome some difficulties. After about halfway through the route, progress becomes much slower as the legs slip backwards and sink. Such walking at a height is very exhausting. The trail was solidified lava, which is difficult and dangerous to walk on, and volcanic ash, in which the feet are buried up to the ankles. In some places, a layer of solidified lava reaches a depth of half a meter, and grass was visible in its thickness, which a few years ago covered all the slopes up to the top. Closer to the top, a specific smell begins to be felt. A strong and cold wind blows at the top. And the descent is even more dangerous than the climb up the mountain.

From Swahili, the name of this volcano is translated as "mountain that glitters." The sparkle of this hill is expressed in a white cap at the very top, located 5891.8 meters above sea level.

Location

Mount Kilimanjaro is located in the northeastern part of Tanzania. This is the highest point on the African continent. In addition, it is the highest of all volcanoes in the world. This peak is located near the Kenyan border, passing along the eastern and northern slopes of the mountain. This peak rises among the flat savannah, surrounding a drop-shaped hill 4.8-5.2 kilometers in size. This peculiar natural boundary makes Mount Kilimanjaro the highest isolated mountain in the world. The area of ​​this array is almost 400 hectares. The mountain itself, which has an oval cone, stretches for 70 km from the northwest to the southeast and for 50 km from the southwest to the northeast. It is located only 340 kilometers from the equator. The closest city to the volcano is the Tanzanian Moshi, from which all groups wishing to climb its slopes depart. The coast of the Indian Ocean is located not far from the mountain - only 270 kilometers away. The volcano with all adjacent territories constitutes the National Park.

Story

The formation of this mountain range began about two million years ago. Mount Kilimanjaro is represented by three extinct craters. The highest of them is Kibo (5895 m), a little to the east - Monwenzi (5149 m) and in the west is Shira (3962 m). During times of volcanic activity, lava erupted from all three craters almost continuously. After the end of the eruption, the ejected magma solidified, a layer from the next eruption was superimposed on it, then more and more layers. After the end of volcanic activity, soil erosion came into play.

The lowest peak arose after the first volcanic eruption. Shira became inactive about 500 thousand years ago. However, Movenzi and Kibo continued to grow, spewing incredibly powerful lava flows, which, cooling down, allowed them to reach a height of more than 5.5 thousand meters. At this turn, Monvenzi lost his ardor, starting to crumble. Kibo, on the other hand, continued to grow, producing even more powerful rivers of molten magma. The most terrible eruptions, which occurred about 360 thousand years ago, threw out black lava that filled the destroyed Shira caldera. The same magma branched along the Saddle, along the base of Movenzi, and flowed far to the south and north. This lava is distinguished by its color and inclusions of phenocrysts.

About 450 thousand years ago, Kilimanjaro - the highest mountain in Africa - completed its growth. At that time, Kibo was about 5.9 kilometers. It was at that time that the mountain began to shrink. Some eruptions continued for a long time, which, together with erosion and destruction, formed the shape of the modern mountain. Gradually, the spiers and peaks of Moenzi, the Shira plateau, came to light. Kibo flattened, changed shape, regularly covered with glaciers. About a hundred thousand years ago, a large landslide swept away a piece of the top, forming Kibo Barranco. As a result, the glaciers firmly covered the Kilimanjaro volcano with a cap. On the map, exactly the mountain that is familiar to us today was formed.

Climate

The foot of the slopes are dry, warm plains, turning into a belt of tropical rainforest at an altitude of 2 thousand meters. After 3.5 thousand, the area is more like moorland, full of lichen and heather. Closer to the snow line, the terrain becomes similar to alpine. The highest mountain is covered with eternal ice - this may seem incredible, because the peak is only 3 degrees south of the equator.

Rains on the volcano are expected from March to June. Since the rest of the months are not rich in precipitation, it is relatively comfortable to climb the mountain almost all year round.

Animal world

Mount Kilimanjaro is ready to boast of a variety of wildlife corresponding to all climatic zones that can be observed on the slopes. Savannah animals roam at the foot of the mountains, tropical animals can be found on the slopes, and a little higher - animals of alpine meadows. The fauna of the volcano is very diverse, it is already worth climbing the mountain even in order to see it all with your own eyes.

Forecasts

The ice cap is currently melting. Moreover, it melts much faster than scientists expected. Given this fact, some scientists believe that the volcano is warming up again. However, others see this as a manifestation of the greenhouse effect. Whatever the reason, if the melting of the ice continues at the same pace, by 2200 Kilimanjaro - Africa's highest mountain - will lose its ice cap.

Considering what is happening, those who want to see the magnificence of the volcano should hurry up with the ascent until its appearance has changed beyond recognition.

ascent

Kilimanjaro is very popular with climbers. Each of its peaks has its own difficulty level. Climbing Ukhra is considered quite simple, although here it is necessary to survive acclimatization. Whereas climbing the lower Mawenzi will require snow and ice climbing skills. In general, Machame, Rongai and Marangu are considered the lightest peaks. Absolutely anyone, even without special training, will be able to climb these peaks.

Climbing any of the mountains is also unique in that during the ascent a person will be able to go through almost all climatic zones that are on our planet.

Climbers love speed climbing a mountain. In this kind of peculiar competition, a record was set in 2010: the Catalan Kilian Jornet Burgada climbed Mount Umbwe in just 5:23:50. The previous record was set in 2009 when Marangu was cleared in 5:24:40.

The coordinates of the Kilimanjaro volcano allow you to climb it not only from the Tanzanian side, but also from Kenya. However, the countries have agreed that ascents can only be made from Tanzania. Kenya does not have the necessary infrastructure, so it provided the approaches to the mountains with police posts.

Thousands of tourists flock to the area every year. Since both the volcano and the area around it are recognized as a National Park, you cannot get there for free. Income from travelers makes up the bulk of Tanzania's budget. The fee is taken not only for the visit, but also for the obligatory guide, and for each night spent on the territory. The Tanzanians are also very grateful for the tip. At the same time, in places where the Kilimanjaro volcano is located, you will not see landfills and garbage, which is typical for other peaks open to tourists.

Tanzania- this is the only state in whose name the names of the two united countries have merged: TANGanyika + ZANzibar = Tanzania.

A lot of interesting things could be said about her. About the British-Zanzibar war, which lasted ... 38 minutes. About the strange epidemic of uncontrolled hysterical laughter that happened in 1962. Tanzania has oceanic seaweed farms and the citizens speak 127 languages. Here, the authorities were not afraid to move the capital of their country from a large port city to a village, in the vicinity of which ostriches and giraffes still roam today. By the way, a third of the country is occupied by protected natural areas. And Tanzanians have something to protect and show!

Our reference:

Official name: United Republic of Tanzania.

Location: East Africa.

Territory: 947.3 thousand km².

Population: over 51.8 million people

Declaration of Independence (from Great Britain): Tanganyika - December 9, 1961; Zanzibar - December 10, 1963

Capital: Dodoma(since 1993).

Official languages: English and Swahili.

A bit of Tanzania's history.

Cradle of humanity.

Guests of Tanzania can see the largest African lake - Victoria. They can also climb the highest mountain of the continent - Kilimanjaro. But between these two objects lies the Olduvai Gorge. And in importance it is not inferior to its two famous neighbors.

Olduvai is a giant fissure that stretches for 40 km, and the depth ... If you build a 30-story house at the bottom, then its roof would be just at the level of the edges of the canyon. In 1911, in pursuit of a rare butterfly, a German entomologist fell into it. Rising to his feet with difficulty, he walked along the bottom of the crevice and drew attention to the fact that the cliff walls clearly reveal the earth layers of past eras. Undisturbed layers made it possible to fairly accurately date the finds buried in the canyon walls. An ideal place to read the annals of the Earth!

After World War I, the British took Tanganyika from Germany. In the 1930s, the expedition of the British archaeologist Louis Leakey arrived in the gorge. He was born in neighboring Kenya, arrived on the expedition with his wife, colleague and eldest son. Having begun excavations, they, of course, could not know that the work would last ... forty years! And that the findings will shock the entire scientific world.

On the very first day, Leakey discovered primitive tools. Then there was a real cemetery of animal bones. It was a trap where the ancient hunters drove the animals. They dug up the bones of monkeys in the gorge, which could well be the ancestors of gorillas and chimpanzees. But the main finds - the remains of people of the Stone Age - for a long time did not come across. Finally, in 1959, when Louis was ill, his wife Mary discovered the skull of an ancient man of an unknown species. Massive, with powerful jaws, he clearly ate only plant foods.

The following year, Leakey Jr. unearthed the skeleton of another humanoid creature. Nearby lay the bones of a wild cat with long curved fangs. Which of these two turned out to be the hunter during their lifetime, and which - the prey, remained unclear. Another thing is more important - the creature had a larger brain, it moved vertically on two legs, it was clearly not a vegetarian, and in general it was very similar to us. Roughly upholstered pebbles with sharp edges were found in the gorge. The tools of labor turned out to be the most ancient in the world - they were made two million years ago. Archaeologists have unearthed hundreds of them - broken pieces of lava with sharp edges, jagged fragments that can be cut and scraped, anvil stones, stone awls and much more. It is not surprising that their manufacturers received the name "handy man" from scientists.

In 1976, the same tireless Mary, south of the gorge, discovered traces of two humanoid creatures that walked here 3.7 million years ago! Today, hundreds of tourists come here specifically to see the imprints of ancient feet in the hardened volcanic ash. Maybe it was a man and a woman walking side by side? Maybe their descendants live among us?

Olduvai Gorge has been dubbed the "Cradle of Humankind" for good reason. After the local finds, it became clear that it was impossible to build a human genealogy as a straight chain, link by link. In East Africa, side by side, at the same time and for a very long time, those creatures lived who had more, some less resemblance to humans. Where and why did they appear? How did they get along side by side for thousands of years? Why did they disappear, where did they settle? Tanzanian land will surprise scientists more than once and make us think about the past and the present.

Tanzania is a country of volcanoes. The volcano is extinct, but life is in full swing!

Do you know where the ashes came from, on which a chain of prehistoric footprints remained? Volcanoes, it turns out, are nearby. Eight pieces next to each other, all extinct, with settled craters. Two and a half million years ago, during an eruption, the top of one of them either exploded or collapsed after lakes of lava poured out of the volcano. In short, at the site of the summit, an oval failure was formed with steep walls inside and gently sloping outside - the Ngorongoro crater.

When viewed from an airplane, it looks like a stadium. Yes, what! Six hundred meters deep and from edge to edge - up to 25 km. Here one could freely place such a rather big city as Orenburg. True, no one will do this, since the crater has long been inhabited.

Shrubs, small but dense forests and savannah grow green on its slopes. There are not uncommon yellow-bark acacias, which for some reason we call mimosas. Herds of hoofed animals roam among the tall grass: antelopes, zebras, buffaloes. In Ngorongoro, the rare and endangered black rhinoceros has found refuge everywhere. The trunks of some trees are wrapped in steel mesh - protection from elephants who like to scratch their sides. Monkeys roar in the forests. At the bottom of the crater there is Lake Magadi, it is fed by dozens of streams flowing down the slopes. Hippopotamuses huddle in the water and on marshy shores. Luxurious pink flamingos look at them. From their thousands of flocks it seems that the lake is illuminated by a glow even at noon. Simply heaven!

The peaceful situation is disturbed by hunting predators: fifty lions, cheetahs, hyena dogs, leopards, jackals, big-eared spotted cats - servals. They came here in time immemorial after the prey, and they remained so. In general, Ngorongoro has its own natural community. And the truth is: why climb steep slopes and move somewhere when there is plenty of food and water? Predators, of course, also exist, but where are they not? And so they live generation after generation, without leaving their native crater. Only a few swift-footed antelopes and zebras leave here during the rainy season.

Thousands of years ago, people began to settle in Ngorongoro. The last to come here were the Masái people, hunters and herdsmen. They did not comply with the hunting bans imposed by the Europeans, and, in the end, the Africans were evicted from here. Then they spontaneously returned. When the territory became a protected area in 1951, houses for guards and scientists appeared on the slopes. Biologists work here all year round. According to their recommendations, for example, ... fires are arranged in the crater. It turns out that they are necessary for the savannah, otherwise the perennial dry grass deprives the ungulates of nutritious food. The reserve buys plots of land outside its borders and transfers it to those Africans who agree to move from the slopes of Ngorongoro.

Enclosed by the mountain slopes, Ngorongoro seems to be created for showing animals. It is included in the World Heritage List and is classified as one of the seven wonders of African nature (along with the Sahara and the mass migration of animals from Kenya). Tourists flock here by the thousands. I even had to make two aircraft platforms on the edge of the crater. Outside, small hotels have been built on the crest of the crater. Of these, chains of tourists are drawn to the entrance to the crater every morning. The rules are strict: before dark (seven in the evening) everyone must return. Precaution is not superfluous - it protects animals and people from each other.

Kilimanjaro is such a word familiar to us from childhood, known from the stories of the writer Hemingway. Any tourist and traveler dreams of seeing the “crown of Tanzania” at least once in his life, and maybe even climbing to its top, to an unrealistic height, to the kingdom of eternal snow (by the way, it is she who appears in The Lion King). Let's take a little closer look at Tanzania's most famous landmark, the highest mountain in Africa, which the locals call the "sparkling peak", Kilimanjaro.

Location of Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro is not quite a mountain, as many believe, it is a dormant volcano, it was formed from a huge number of layers of tephra, frozen lava flows and ash. According to scientists, Kilimanjaro was formed as a result of the movement of the layers of the earth's crust millions of years ago. So, it is located in Tanzania, in East Africa and rises above sea level by 5895 meters.

Animals of Kilimanjaro

The huge size of this volcano has created a unique and amazing climate that you will not find anywhere else on the planet. Here you can see many small rivers and streams, they are formed during the melting of glaciers. In the lower part there is a spacious savanna, here you can meet funny monkeys, a family of leopards and lions, servals, funny and a little clumsy honey badgers, huge elephants, giraffes, zebras and many small rodents. In addition to the diverse wildlife, Mount Kilimanjaro boasts mountain swamps and endless meadows, which are strewn with flowers and lush herbs, and having climbed a little into the mountains, the real African desert begins, where only lichens, moss and cacti reign.

Weather and climate Kilimanjaro

Since the mountain is located almost on the equator of our globe, the weather is almost always good here, so nothing will interfere with your ascent, except for the rainy season, when a fairly large amount of precipitation falls in the area. Experienced travelers say that the best time for climbing is the periods from August to October, and from January to March, it is at this time that warm, clear weather sets in.

The peculiarity of Mount Kilimanjaro is that on its example you can see all types of climate on our planet, at the base you will be met by humid tropics, and as you climb, an arid desert, a dank hill with endless cold winds and, finally, a snow-capped peak where it never melts snow. Therefore, if you still decide to climb the mountain, get ready for sudden changes in temperature: from + 30 to +15, 0 and sub-zero temperatures, it all depends on the level of climb, season and route.

Tours to Mount Kilimanjaro

If you decide to visit the Kilimanjaro National Reserve, the first thing to do is to find the town of Moshi, it is the closest to the reserve. There you can easily find
a travel agency that cooperates with the reserve and buy a tour. On your adventure, you will be happily accompanied by a professional guide, personal porter and chef. As they say, any whim for your money. But those sensations and incredible views that await you at the top are worth your money, your work, and several days of travel. You will be able to see the inner crater of the volcano, eternal ice, and also enjoy the bewitching landscapes of the valley and the reserve. In addition, the tourist will be able to easily see the seven paths along which the ascent to the most unique landmark of Tanzania takes place.

Video: Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

The most interesting climbing routes on Mount Kilimanjaro

The first conquerors of Kilimanjaro were Hans Meyer and Ludwig Purtsheller, this happened more than 100 years ago in 1889. Since that time, experienced climbers have laid more than a dozen routes, which differ in the difficulty of climbing and the level of climbing training, there are trails for beginners and real pros. If you still decide to conquer this peak, then the total time, and this includes the ascent and descent, will take approximately 5 to 9 days. And now we present to your attention the most interesting and popular routes for climbing Kilimanjaro.

Lemosho trail

Lemosho is located on the western part of the mountain, it is considered the most suitable for acclimatization of tourists in this area. Climbing this route is more expensive than usual, so you will not find a huge number of tourist groups here. The high cost is more than offset by the amazing beauty of the views, because Lemosho is considered one of the most picturesque trails of Kilimanjaro.

Marangu hiking trail

To many, this route is known under the other name "the Coca-Cola path". It received this name during the first trips to the mountain, when tourists simply threw garbage along the roadsides, and most often they were plastic bottles of a drink we know well. Now the route is carefully monitored, garbage is systematically removed, rubble is sprinkled, and where the path passes through deep streams, small bridges have been built. The trail is located in the southeast of the mountain and is the most popular among tourists because of the ease of climbing. Moreover, it is the only
route trail, where stationary camps for overnight stays are located at various levels of ascent, where there are all the benefits of civilization: electricity, a toilet, a small dining room, a medical and rescue center.

Machame Trail

Machame is located on the western part of the mountain and is considered one of the most difficult to climb, with frequent ascents and descents, therefore it is popular only with experienced hikers and climbers. If you come to the Kilimanjaro reserve during the rainy season, it is better to use another trail, as the route is very eroded and dangerous to climb.

Rongai route trail

Rongai is the only northern route, a narrow path leads to Kibo (the central volcano of Kilimanjaro), through one of the mountain peaks - Mawenzi. This is perhaps the least crowded route, but it is recommended for climbing during the rainy season, since there is a minimum amount of precipitation in this area and there is no strong wind.

Umbwe Trail

Umbwe runs along the south side and is rightfully considered the most difficult route to climb. This is a short, winding and straight trail that starts from the Barranco camp. The descent passes along another path - Mweke. Due to the rather sharp ascent, steep descents and dense jungle, you will not have time for acclimatization at all, so the route is intended only for strong travelers who are confident in their strength and body. Climbing Umbwe takes from 5-6 days, but if you want to enjoy incredible views and wonderful nature, then spend 7-8 days on the route.

Mount Kilimanjaro is the heart of Africa, it is a stone giant, it is a real treasury of Tanzania. If you ever get lucky enough to travel around this African country, then do not miss the chance to take part in what is probably an incredible and exciting adventure in your life, to appreciate the majestic thousand-year-old volcano and wild nature untouched by man.