In the northeast of hot Tanzania, an amazing mountain rises above the endless expanse of the plateau. Despite the proximity of the equator, it is crowned with a snow cap. The mountain looks so majestic that it will take your breath away. This is Kilimanjaro - one of the highest mountains on our planet.
Here we will share some interesting facts related to this mountain.
Many-sided nature
Climbing the mountainside, you will be amazed at how the landscape changes. Peanuts and corn, coffee and maize grow at the foot of the mountain. The so-called bushland begins above. There are practically no trees here: they were cut down long ago. Agriculture is flourishing here. The rain forests begin even higher. High humidity reigns here. You will be walking surrounded by incredibly lush greenery. Lions, elephants, giraffes live here …
The forest will be replaced by a giant heather. You will need to go through the meadows, past the swamps. And then the wasteland will begin. It can get wild heat during the day. It is sometimes frosty here at night.
Finally, you will find yourself in the realm of stone, ice and sparkling snow. Seeing this, you will understand that the peak is very close. There are no plants or animals here. And it is not recommended for a person to stay here for too long. But the feeling of victory and amazing freedom is worth visiting! Not to mention the stunning view from the top.
Opening
The first mention of the amazing mountain dates back to the 2nd century AD. Europeans learned about it much later - in the middle of the 19th century. It was discovered by the German missionary Johannes Rebmann. Seeing a mountain with a snow-capped peak near the equator, he was amazed. When the missionary returned to his homeland and told about his discovery, some doubted the veracity of his words.
Three-headed mountain
In fact, the mountain has not one peak, but several. More precisely, there are three of them: Kibo, Shira and Mawenzi. The first one is the highest. The second can be called the top only with a stretch. This is actually a plateau. Once upon a time there really was a peak, but it collapsed long ago.
The first of the named peaks is a volcano. Don't be alarmed, the volcano is currently dormant. Hundreds of thousands of years have passed since the day it last erupted. But still, scientists say that he can wake up at any moment …
The mystery of the name
Scientists are still arguing about the meaning of the name of the mountain. There is a version that it can be translated as "white mountain". Others prefer the "glittering mountain" (which, of course, sounds prettier). Still others believe that the name means "conqueror of the caravan." What does the caravan have to do with it? The fact is that the mountain, which can be seen from afar, in the old days served as something like a lighthouse for caravans.
Snow cap
It is sad to write about this, but soon the famous mountain may completely lose its luxurious snow cap. The reason for this is believed to be the deforestation of the surrounding forests. In the 20th century, this felling significantly changed the local climate. Now the sparkling snow is barely noticeable, but once it was visible from afar …
Local residents are fighting to preserve this natural landmark. Several million trees have recently been planted at the foot of the mountain. Time will tell if this measure will be effective …
Melting silver
There is a legend about the snow covering the mountain peak. They say that in ancient times the locals mistook it for silver. None of them knew what snow was. And they have seen silver more than once.
Once the leader of a local tribe sent some of the bravest warriors to the top for silver. They climbed to the snow cap, scooped up handfuls of strange "silver" and moved back …. To their amazement, the "silver" very quickly turned into ordinary water.
Which way is better
The slopes of the mountain are considered not too difficult to climb. Why, then, about half of the climbers don't make it to the top? Why do they decide to interrupt the trip?
The answer will surprise you: because they mistakenly take the shortest path. They consider it to be the easiest. But here is a hidden catch: during a rapid ascent, the body does not have time to adapt to a change in height. The person begins an attack of altitude sickness. It is also called altitude sickness. She is familiar to many climbers.
Oddly enough, one of the first signs of illness is unreasonable euphoria. Then dizziness begins, sticky sweat appears … In severe cases, everything can end in loss of consciousness or even stop breathing.
A little about climbers
But if you choose the right route, climbing the mountain will not seem very difficult.
There were cases when the ascent was made by people with disabilities. One of them climbed the mountain in a wheelchair. Several years ago, 8 blind climbers made the ascent.
More recently, an 89-year-old woman has conquered the summit. Her name is Ann Lorimore.
Speaking of unusual ascents, one cannot fail to mention Douglas Adams. He climbed to the top wearing a rhino costume.
Climbing the mountain is officially prohibited for children under the age of 10. But if the child has already managed to get climbing experience, an exception will be made for him. So, there are cases when 6-year-old children conquered a snow-covered peak.
So, is it worth taking a trip to the foot of the amazing mountain? Is it worth it, overcoming difficulties, to climb to its top? The answer is unequivocal: worth it! This natural landmark is unlike anything you've seen before. And you can verify this yourself.
