Mount Kilimanjaro

Welcome to our History page!

In Swahili -kilima- top of hill and -njaro- refers to snow,  spelling Kilimanjaro.

This is where it is thought the name of the mountain comes from.   Other names such as "mountain of greatness," "mountain of whiteness," and "mountain of caravans,"  derived from  the Chagga people's dialects

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Mt. Kilimanjaro was formed at a weakness in the Great Rift Valley about 750,000 years ago. The mountain consists of three vents: Shira, Mawenzi, and Kibo. Shira eventually collapsed and became extinct, so did Mawenzi. Kibo continued to erupt and last erupted about 360,000 years ago. All are still standing today.

More information about the mountain on the dots below!

                                                             Kibo                                          Mawenzi

             Shira                                               Kibo reached 5,900 meters.    Kibo was leveled, and was covered during the ages with glaciers and ice.                                            Mawenzi remained active a while longer, but also became extinct and began to erode.

                Over thousands of years ago Shia collasped and became extinct.                            A landside created Kibo Barranco around 100,000 years ago.                  Kibo still had massive eruptions around 360,000 years which created the Saddle.                                Mawenzi and Shira Plateaus' jagged peaks were created by erosion.

                                                          The final eruption of Kibo created the Ash pit , the Inner Crater and the perfectly formed caldera.

 

1st ascent to the summit                                                                                                2003 Mr. King's Climb

                             1889                                                   1929 The Moutain Club of East Africa                         

                                                                 

            1848                                           1912 Path; 1st hut established               1932 Kibo hut completed

Johann Rebmann and Bwana Kheri  -                                                                                                                                                                   First to see Mt.Kilimanjaro                                                                                                                      

 

Do you think you're ready to climb the mountain?  Try taking "The Climb" quiz!

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