Mount Karisimbi

Mount Karisimbi is an extinct stratovolcano 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.

Mount Karisimbi
Karisimbi summit seen from the campsite in 2005
Highest point
Elevation4,507 m (14,787 ft)[1]
Prominence3,312 m (10,866 ft)[1]
Ranked 61st
Isolation207 km (129 mi) Edit this on Wikidata
ListingCountry high point
Ultra
Coordinates1°30′30″S 29°26′42″E[1]
Geography
Mount Karisimbi is located in Rwanda
Mount Karisimbi
Mount Karisimbi
Location of Mount Karisimbi in Rwanda (on the border with the DRC)
LocationDemocratic Republic of the Congo - Rwanda border
Parent rangeVirunga Mountains
Geology
Mountain typeStratovolcano
Last eruption8050 BCE (?)

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][3]

See also

Notes

References

  • "Karisimbi". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution.
  • "Volcan Karisimbi, Rwanda/Congo DRC". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
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