Africa is exotic for many Eurasianscontinent. Here there are huge deserts and savannas, unusual animals are found and amazing plants grow. Do you know which is the highest mountain in Africa? The names of some of them are remembered by the school curriculum, others are completely unknown.
general description
Главной особенностью континента является то, что high mountains are not in the folded structures. For example, the highest mountain in Africa is located on the East African Plateau. In the north-west and south of the continent rise the folded mountains - Atlas and Cape. The Ethiopian (Abyssinian) Highland is located in the northeast, the Aberdar Range is in the heart of the continent, the Drakensberg Mountains are in the south, and Ahaggar is in the northwest. In addition, Africa is famous for active and extinct volcanoes (Kilimanjaro and Cameroon).
The highest mountain in Africa - Kilimanjaro
This huge mountain range consists of threenow extinct volcanoes - Mawenzi (5129 m), Shira (3962 m), and Kibo (5895 m). Accordingly, the height of the highest mountain in Africa is 5895 meters. The array is located on the Masai plateau. Today, scientists do not have documentary evidence that in ancient times there was volcanic activity, only legends speak about this. In the Kilimanjaro area today, only periodic gas emissions are reminiscent of volcanism. However, shifts and collapses have been recorded in the past.
Africa's highest mountain is famous for its icya cap, since the peak has been covered by glaciers for many millennia. Today, many scientists express fears that this huge snow cap may disappear in the coming decades. Probably, their fears are not groundless - over the past 100 years, the cap has decreased in volume by almost 80%. This is not a consequence of an increase in temperature, but depends on a decrease in the amount of snow falling in the region.
The highest mountain in Africa was discovered in 1848year pastor from Germany Johannes Rebman. For the first time, the Hungarian Count Samuel Teleki tried to conquer the summit, but she only subdued in 1889 to the German traveler Hans Meyer and his companion, the Austrian mountaineer Ludwig Purtscheller.
Mountain kenya
It is not the highest mountain in Africa, however,its height reaches 5199 meters. Mount Kenya is an extinct stratovolcano and one of the most popular peaks of the African continent among climbers. It is located in Mount Kenya National Park, founded in 1949 to protect the surrounding area.
Most often, climbing this mountain is carried outto its three peaks - Batian, Nelion and Point-Lenan. From a technical point of view, Point-Lenana, located in the southeast of the massif, is considered the most accessible and simplest.
Scientists believe that about two million years ago, Mount Kenya was an active volcano. There is a version that in those days it was higher than Kilimanjaro.
In 1849, it was discovered by the German missionary Johann Krapf, and after 34 years it was confirmed by the discovery of a researcher J. Thompson, who reached its foot from the west.
Cameroon
This mountain is considered the highest in the territoryCentral Africa. Its height is 4070 meters. Currently, it still shows volcanic activity. The last eruption of Cameroon was recorded in 2000. The top of the mountain does not always cover the snow, only sometimes a hat appears on it. The volcano has other names - Fako and Mongo ma Ndemi - as the local population calls it.
This volcano was discovered by Portuguese sailors who were members of an expedition that was looking for a route to Africa through Africa. Conquered the top in 1861 by Richard Francis Burton.
Ethiopian Highlands
It lies on the northeast of the continent, inEthiopia, Eritrea, and partly in northern Somalia. The highest point is considered to be Mount Ras Dashen. Its height is 4550 meters. In the east and south, the steppes of the highlands are steep. They descend into deep valleys. The western ledges are characterized by a stepped shape, carved by deep canyons of the Blue Nile. Valleys divide highlands into detached arrays (ambas). Compose the Ethiopian Highlands gneisses, crystalline schists, above are volcanic rocks.
In the highlands there is a monsoon climate, whichallows you to grow here a coffee tree, rye and wheat. In addition, there are many minerals - gold, platinum, sulfur, copper and iron ores. Brown coal, limestone and gypsum are mined here.
Atlas Mountains
This mountain range is located in the northwestcontinent. For a long time it was believed that it stretches from the Atlantic coast in Morocco to the very coast of Tunisia. Today it is established that it stretches for 2,300 km from Cape Sirtov to Kochi.
The Atlas Mountains separate the Sahara Desert from the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. They are numerous ridges. The highest point of this massif is Mount Toubkal (4167 m).
