Page 61 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

38 Africa

Figure 2.3 The volcanoes of the Central Virunga: Mikeno (3470m), Karisimbi (4507m) and Visoke (3711m) The
snow-cap covered summit of Karisimbi can be seen in the lower centre
Source: Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

time the third, fourth and fifth highest in Africa. equator, which result in constant climatic
These peaks are covered with permanent snow conditions (humidity, temperature and high
caps, especially on their western steep sides. The insolation) all year round (McGinley, 2008). The
Duke of Abruzzi was the first European to climb Ruwenzori range is a world heritage site.
up to its summit, in 1906 (Diallo, 1975). Because of the steep and inaccessible slopes,
The Ruwenzori mountain range is blessed and their harsh weather conditions in their higher
with a very impressive variety of biomes, altitudes, the Ruwenzori range has been only
comprising lakes and water reservoirs at various marginally investigated. So far, no permanent
heights, marshlands and peat bogs, saline soils and scientific facility can be found in the area
lava plains, lowland equatorial rainforests, mountain (McGinley, 2008). Some recent works (Taylor et
forests, alpine meadows, glaciers and snow caps. Its al, 2006; Hastenrath, 2008) have shown that the
fauna and flora include forest elephants, primate glaciers in the Ruwenzori range have been sharply
species and many endemic birds, as well as giant recessing both in number and in area: from 43
lobelia and giant heater covered by moss. In fact glaciers over 6 mountains with a total area of
2
the Ruwenzori range is noted to have the richest 7.5km in 1906 when Abruzzi first climbed the
montane fauna in Africa because of its altitudinal mountain, to about half that number on 3
2
ranges and its exceptional position just over the mountains covering about 1.5km in 2005.

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