Mount Karisimbi

For the commune in Nord-Kivu, see Karisimbi (commune).
Mount Karisimbi

Karisimbi summit seen from the campsite in 2005
Highest point
Elevation 4,507 m (14,787 ft) [1]
Prominence 3,312 m (10,866 ft) [1]
Ranked 61st
Isolation 207 kilometres (129 mi)
Listing Country high point
Ultra
Coordinates 1°30′30″S 29°26′42″E / 1.50833°S 29.44500°E / -1.50833; 29.44500Coordinates: 1°30′30″S 29°26′42″E / 1.50833°S 29.44500°E / -1.50833; 29.44500 [1]
Geography
Mount Karisimbi

Location of Mount Karisimbi in Rwanda (on the border with the DRC)

Location Democratic Republic of the Congo - Rwanda border
Parent range Virunga Mountains
Geology
Mountain type Stratovolcano
Last eruption 8050 BCE (?)

Mount Karisimbi is an inactive volcano in the Virunga Mountains on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. At 4,507 metres (14,787 ft), Karisimbi is the highest of the eight major mountains of the mountain range, which is a part of Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift. Karisimbi is flanked by Mikeno to the north, Bisoke to the east and Nyiragongo to the west, on the other side of the Rift Valley. Karisimbi is the 11th highest mountain of Africa.

The name Karisimbi comes from the word 'amasimbi' in the local language, Kinyarwanda, which means snow. Snow can mostly be found during the dry season in June, July and August on the top of the volcano.

Between Karisimbi and Bisoke is the Karisoke Research Center, which was founded by Dian Fossey in order to observe the mountain gorillas living in this area.

1908 expedition

On February 27, 1908 an expedition led by Egon Von Kirschstein was coming down the Branca Crater when a hailstorm and snowstorm caused twenty of the expedition's porters to perish.[2]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 "Africa Ultra-Prominences" Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  2. ↑ Bulletin of the American Geographical Society, Volume 40 .p.416 1908

References

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