Mount Kilimanjaro is a snow-capped peak rising above the savanna of
eastern Africa, just 200 miles south of the equator. With a summit
of 19,341 feet, this is Africa's tallest mountain.It is also the
world's largest free-standing mountain
Formation
Mount Kilimanjaro was formed about 3 million years ago during the
formation if the Great Rift Valley. Then nearly a million years ago
volcanic activities centered on a few specific points. Kilimanjaro
is not one single mountain peak but rather three volcanoes lying
practically on top of one another. The lowest summit, Shira, at
12,995 feet last erupted half a million years ago and is now
considered extinct. The other two peaks are dormant and have not
erupted for centuries. Mawenzi, at 16,896 feet is linked to the
highest summit, Kibo, by a broad ridge which gives the summit of
Kilimanjaro a “saddle” shape.
Barranco Wall
A "Barranco" is the spanish word for ravine. Deep barrancos have
been carved into the soft rocks and ashes of Kilimanjaro. The most
impressive of these is the Great Barranco below the Western Breach
and Southwest of the crater. It is believed that around 100,000
years ago, a huge landslide created the Barranco Wall. The Barranco
Wall can be accessed from the Machame trail, where the Barranco
camp is located at the base of the wall. Hikers ascend 700 feet of
nearly vertical terrain to cross this wall.
The Barranco Camp with the wall in the
background
Assignment
1. Study a sample of the rocks in the wall. What types of rocks are
they? How do you suppose they were formed? Are they hard or
soft?
2. Based on your observations at the site, what direction did the
landslide come from?
3. Send me an e-mail with the answers to 1 and 2
4. (Optional) Upload a photo of you ascending the wall and post in
your log how long it took to climb