| Revision as of 10:19, 9 December 2005 edit86.132.210.155 (talk) →References← Previous edit | Revision as of 11:10, 9 December 2005 edit undo86.132.210.155 (talk) Various minor corrections, particularly to the official (Uganda Govt.) name of the mountains, and the fewer smaller glaciers surviving, with important additions to the references. <osmaston@clara.net>Next edit → | ||
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| The '''Ruwenzori Range''' |
The '''Ruwenzori Range''', now officially called '''Rwenzori Mountains''' (the spelling having been changed in about 1980 to conform more closely with the local tribal name) is a small but spectacular ] of central ], often referred to as Mt. Rwenzori, located on the border between ] and ], with heights of up to 5,109 m (16,761 ft). The highest Rwenzoris are permanently snow-capped, and they, along with ] and ], are the only such in Africa. The Ruwenzoris are often identified with the "]" mentioned by ], but the descriptions are too vague to make this definite. | ||
| The mountains formed as a result of uplift on the flanks of the Albertine (western) Rift of the East African Rift, the African part of the ]. | The mountains formed as a result of uplift on the flanks of the Albertine (western) Rift of the East African Rift, the African part of the ]. | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| The range is about 120 km (75 mi) long and 65 km (40 mi) wide. It consists of six massifs separated by deep gorges: ], ], ], ], ], and ]. Mount Stanley is the largest and has several subsidiary summits, with ] being the highest point. The rock is metamorphic, and the mountains are believed to have been squeezed upwards by plate movement. They are in an extremely humid area, and frequently enveloped in |
The range is about 120 km (75 mi) long and 65 km (40 mi) wide. It consists of six massifs separated by deep gorges: ], ], ], ], ], and ]. Mount Stanley is the largest and has several subsidiary summits, with ] being the highest point. The rock is metamorphic, and the mountains are believed to have been tilted and squeezed upwards by plate movement. They are in an extremely humid area, and frequently enveloped in clouds. | ||
| The Ruwenzori are known for their ], ranging from ] through alpine ]s to snow; and for their ] population, including ]s, several ] species and many ] ]s. One zone is known for its six metre high ] covered in ], another for its three metre ]s. | The Ruwenzori are known for their ], ranging from ] through alpine ]s to snow; and for their ] population, including ]s, several ] species and many ] ]s. One zone is known for its six metre high ] covered in ], another for its three metre ]s. Most of the range is now a World Heritage Site and is covered jointly by The Rwenzori Mountains National Park in Uganda and the Parc National des Volcans in Congo. | ||
| In 1906 the Rwenzori had 43 named glaciers distributed over 6 mountains with a total area of 7.5 sq. km., about half the total glacier area in Africa. Now (2005) less than half of these survive, on only 3 mountains, with an area of about 1.5 sq.km. | |||
| The first European sighting of the Ruwenzori was by the expedition of ] in ] (the aforementioned |
The first European sighting of the Ruwenzori was by the expedition of ] in ] (the aforementioned clouds are considered to explain why two decades of previous explorers had not seen them). On ], the expedition's second-in-command and its military commander, ], climbed to 10,677 feet, the first non-African ever to climb in the range. The first ascent to the summit was made by the ] in ]. | ||
| == References == | == References == | ||
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| Glaciers of the Middle East and Africa, Williams, Richard S., Jr. In: U. S. Geological Survey Professional Paper, 1991, pp.G1-G70 | Glaciers of the Middle East and Africa, Williams, Richard S., Jr. In: U. S. Geological Survey Professional Paper, 1991, pp.G1-G70 | ||
| Guide to the Ruwenzori, Osmaston,H.A., Pasteur,D. 1972, Mountain Club of Uganda. | Guide to the Ruwenzori, Osmaston,H.A., Pasteur,D. 1972, Mountain Club of Uganda. 200 p. | ||
| Tropical Glaciers, Kaser, G., Osmaston, H.A. Cambridge University Press, UK. | Tropical Glaciers, Kaser, G., Osmaston, H.A. 2002, Cambridge University Press, UK. 207 p. | ||
| Ruwenzori, de Filippi, F. 1909. Constable, London. | Ruwenzori, de Filippi, F. 1909. Constable, London. 408 p. | ||
| == External link == | == External link == | ||
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| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| --] 11:10, 9 December 2005 (UTC)--] 11:10, 9 December 2005 (UTC) | |||
Revision as of 11:10, 9 December 2005
The Ruwenzori Range, now officially called Rwenzori Mountains (the spelling having been changed in about 1980 to conform more closely with the local tribal name) is a small but spectacular mountain range of central Africa, often referred to as Mt. Rwenzori, located on the border between Uganda and Congo, with heights of up to 5,109 m (16,761 ft). The highest Rwenzoris are permanently snow-capped, and they, along with Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, are the only such in Africa. The Ruwenzoris are often identified with the "Mountains of the Moon" mentioned by Ptolemy, but the descriptions are too vague to make this definite.
The mountains formed as a result of uplift on the flanks of the Albertine (western) Rift of the East African Rift, the African part of the Great Rift Valley.
The range is about 120 km (75 mi) long and 65 km (40 mi) wide. It consists of six massifs separated by deep gorges: Mount Baker, Mount Emin, Mount Gessi, Mount Luigi di Savoia, Mount Speke, and Mount Stanley. Mount Stanley is the largest and has several subsidiary summits, with Mount Margherita being the highest point. The rock is metamorphic, and the mountains are believed to have been tilted and squeezed upwards by plate movement. They are in an extremely humid area, and frequently enveloped in clouds.
The Ruwenzori are known for their vegetation, ranging from tropical rainforest through alpine meadows to snow; and for their animal population, including forest elephants, several primate species and many endemic birds. One zone is known for its six metre high heather covered in moss, another for its three metre blue lobelias. Most of the range is now a World Heritage Site and is covered jointly by The Rwenzori Mountains National Park in Uganda and the Parc National des Volcans in Congo.
In 1906 the Rwenzori had 43 named glaciers distributed over 6 mountains with a total area of 7.5 sq. km., about half the total glacier area in Africa. Now (2005) less than half of these survive, on only 3 mountains, with an area of about 1.5 sq.km.
The first European sighting of the Ruwenzori was by the expedition of Henry Morton Stanley in 1889 (the aforementioned clouds are considered to explain why two decades of previous explorers had not seen them). On June 7, the expedition's second-in-command and its military commander, William Stairs, climbed to 10,677 feet, the first non-African ever to climb in the range. The first ascent to the summit was made by the Duke of the Abruzzi in 1906.
References
Glaciers of the Middle East and Africa, Williams, Richard S., Jr. In: U. S. Geological Survey Professional Paper, 1991, pp.G1-G70
Guide to the Ruwenzori, Osmaston,H.A., Pasteur,D. 1972, Mountain Club of Uganda. 200 p.
Tropical Glaciers, Kaser, G., Osmaston, H.A. 2002, Cambridge University Press, UK. 207 p.
Ruwenzori, de Filippi, F. 1909. Constable, London. 408 p.
External link
- Rwenzori mountains tourist information and tips
- Wild Frontiers page, with info and photos for guided climbs
- Account and photos of a climb up the Ruwenzoris
- The remarkable plants and animals of the Ruwenzoris
--86.132.210.155 11:10, 9 December 2005 (UTC)--86.132.210.155 11:10, 9 December 2005 (UTC)
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