Why in the News?:

  • Land-use change has caused loss of nearly 75% of the natural fauna on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in the past century.

Mount Kilimanjaro

  • Location: Northeastern Tanzania, near Kenya border in Africa.
  • Origin: Volcanic in origin.
  • Features:
    • Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain and the world’s largest free-standing mountain.
    • It has three main volcanic peaks namely: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira.
    • Amongst these three peaks, Kibo is the tallest of the three volcanic formations which is also a dormant volcano while the other two are extinct volcanoes.
    • The mountain is also known for its snow-capped peak.
    • The mountain has five main vegetation zones from the lowest to the highest point.
  • Protected Sites: The Kilimanjaro National park is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site in 1987.