What plate is mount kilimanjaro on

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As the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro proves one of the region’s most famous attractions. And while it’s perhaps best known for its great mountain hikes and trails, Mount Kilimanjaro also boasts a unique geography and history.

Below, let’s take a brief look at the fascinating geological events that led to the formation of one of Africa’s most significant landmarks.

Mount Kilimanjaro’s unique geological history stems back more than three million years. (Yes, that’s 3,000,000 years!)

This famed mountain was born of the Great Rift Valley three million years ago when Africa’s tectonic plates began to separate. These plates, which cover the surface of the Earth, constantly shift. As they do, they leave distinct geological markers in their wake.

The Formation of the Greater Rift Valley

When thinking of Mount Kilimanjaro and the Greater Rift Valley, two African plates in particular come to mind: the Somalian Plate and the Nubian Plate. As the Somalian Plate continued to drift and pull away from the Nubian Plate three million years ago, it led to the formation of the Greater Rift Valley.

As the land began to shift and the Greater Rift Valley began to form, Mount Kilimanjaro was born. You see, as some of the Earth began to fall and depress into the valley, other bits shot upwards forming volcanoes.

Three volcanoes, in particular, would give rise to Africa’s highest peak.

Kilimanjaro’s Volcanoes: Shira, Mawenzi, and Kibo

The three volcanoes of Mount Kilimanjaro started forming during the creation of the Greater Rift Valley. The three volcanoes continued to form over the next two and a half million years, as eruptions led to Mount Kilimanjaro as we see it today.

The first of these volcanoes to form, Shira would eventually collapse around a half million years ago, giving rise to Mawenzi nearly forty thousand years later. Kibo would form following later eruptions and is now the highest peak on the mountain.

I know what you may be thinking: who goes hiking on a volcano? But if you’re worried about eruptions during your vacation, don’t be. Experts consider both Shira and Mawenzi to be extent and Kibo dormant. In fact, Kibo hasn’t seen a major eruption in over three hundred and fifty thousand years!

Let’s Recap!

I get this may be a lot to take in, so let’s recap the main points!

Mount Kilimanjaro was formed as part of the shifting of two major African tectonic plates three million years ago. During this shift, Mount Kilimanjaro formed as part of the Greater Rift Valley, and would be comprised of three distinct volcanoes!

Shira, the oldest and lowest, peaks at 12,995 feet. Mawenzi, the second volcano to form, lies a bit higher, peaking at 16,896 feet. Both pale in comparison, however, to the staggering 19,341-foot-high Kibo, the last volcano that makes up this famed African mountain.

Both pale in comparison, however, to the staggering 19,341-foot-high Kibo, the last volcano that makes up this famed African mountain.

In this way, it may be easier to see Mount Kilimanjaro not as a single mountain, but as three separate volcanic peaks stacked on top of one another. This unique formation gives it its famed height, distinct look, and famed tourist appeal.

How was Mount Kilimanjaro, a mountain that has distinct geology and history formed?.

Our planet’s surface is divided into several separate portions, some large and others little. Tectonic plates are what they’re called. Africa is one of the biggest continental plates on the planet.

The plates do not remain stationary; instead, they move around the earth’s surface, propelled by convection currents in the mantle. Some sink or subduct beneath others, others clash, and still, others split up. This is exactly what is going on in Africa.

In East Africa, the East African Rift Valley is a growing divergent plate boundary. The Somalian plate, which makes up the eastern half of Africa, is sliding away from the remainder of the continent, which is made up of the Nubian plate. A rift valley has resulted from this expansion. The crustal expansion has resulted in a succession of lengthy lowland valleys divided by highland areas.

Read more facts about Mount Kilimanjaro.

Volcanoes develop when plates split apart, according to one of plate tectonics’ basic laws. This is why Kilimanjaro, as well as other well-known volcanoes like Ol Doinyo Lengai, exist.

Mount Kilimanjaro was produced as part of the Great Rift Valley’s creation. Volcanic activity focused on a few distinct places almost a million years ago. Kilimanjaro is really three volcanoes stacked on top of one another, rather than a single mountain summit. Shira, Mawenzi, and Kibo were formed roughly 3 million years ago with the formation of the Great Rift Valley.

Due to enormous forces that drove the crust skywards, Shira was the first to develop.

Shira collapsed to form a caldera around 500,000 years ago, while Mawenzi began to develop about 460,000 years ago. Kibo was produced by another eruption west of Mawenzi.

Shira, the lowest peak at 12,995 feet, last erupted half a million years ago and is now extinct. At 16,896 feet, Mawenzi is linked to the highest peak, Kibo, by a long ridge that gives Kilimanjaro’s top a “saddle” form.

Mawenzi and Shira are both extinct, however, Kibo is not. Kibo demonstrates it is still active, despite the fact that the most recent activity was roughly 200 years ago and the last major eruption was 360,000 years ago. It spews steam and sulphur into its 1 1/2-mile-wide crater, generating a series of collapses and landslides, the largest of which created the Western Breach. This stratovolcano will very certainly erupt again at some point in the future.

The geological history of Mount Kilimanjaro stretches back over three million years. (That’s right, 3,000,000 years!)

When Africa’s tectonic plates began to split three million years ago, the Great Rift Valley gave birth to this famous peak. The plates that cover the Earth’s surface are continually shifting. They leave unique geological marks in their trail as they go.

How was the Greater Rift Valley formed?

Two African plates in particular spring to mind when thinking about Mount Kilimanjaro and the Greater Rift Valley: the Somalian Plate and the Nubian Plate. The Greater Rift Valley was formed three million years ago as the Somalian Plate began to drift and draw away from the Nubian Plate.

Mount Kilimanjaro arose as the ground began to move and the Greater Rift Valley took shape. As portions of the Earth began to collapse and compress into the valley, other parts of the Earth began to shoot skyward, generating volcanoes.

Africa’s tallest mountain would be formed by three volcanoes in particular.

Shira, Mawenzi, and Kibo Volcanic Peaks

Mount Kilimanjaro’s three volcanoes began to develop with the formation of the Greater Rift Valley. Over the following two and a half million years, the three volcanoes continued to grow, and eruptions gave rise to Mount Kilimanjaro as we know it today.

Shira, the earliest of these volcanoes to erupt, would finally collapse some 500,000 years ago, giving birth to Mawenzi nearly 40,000 years later. Later eruptions gave rise to Kibo, which is today the tallest peak on the mountain.

I get what you’re thinking: who hikes on a volcano? But don’t be concerned about eruptions throughout your trip. Experts believe Shira and Mawenzi are both extinct, while Kibo is dormant. In fact, Kibo hasn’t erupted in a big eruption in almost 350 years!

Conclusion

Mount Kilimanjaro formed three million years ago when two major African tectonic plates shifted. Mount Kilimanjaro originated as part of the Greater Rift Valley during this time, and was made up of three different volcanoes!

Shira, the highest and oldest, reaches a height of 12,995 feet. The second volcano to erupt, Mawenzi, is a little higher, reaching a height of 16,896 feet. Both, however, pale in contrast to Kibo, the legendary African mountain’s last volcano, which stands at 19,341 feet tall.

Both, however, pale in contrast to Kibo, the legendary African mountain’s last volcano, which stands at 19,341 feet tall.

In this sense, it may be simpler to envision Mount Kilimanjaro as three different volcanic peaks stacked on top of one another, rather than a single mountain. Its legendary height, striking appearance, and tourist attractiveness are due to its unique structure.

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