|
Kilimanjaro - Tanzania
|
|
flower
|
Mount Kilimanjaro stands 330 kms south of the equator, on the northern boundary of Tanzania. Its location on an open plain close to the Indian Ocean, and its great size and height strongly influence the climate and thus its vegetation. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain on the African continent It is composed of three extinct volcanoes: Kibo 5895 m (19340 ft), Mawenzi 5149m (16896 ft); and Shira 3962 m (13000 ft). It is also one of the world's highest free standing mountains, its bulk looming 4800 m above an undulating plain that averages around 1000 m above sea level. Its long axis lies in a north-west to south-east line for 60 kms and at its widest part Kilimanjaro is 40 kms across.
|
|
To the right is a fragment of very light volcanic rock taken from the summit. The sumit is characterised by arctic conditions - freezing cold at night and burning sun during the day. Oxygen is about half that at sea level and there is little atmosphere to protect you from the sun's radiation. There is virtually no liquid surface water. Rain enters the porous rock immediately, but the rest of the moisture is locked up in snow and ice.
A few lichens live here but grow slowly at not more than 1 mm/yr. The highest recorded flowering plant is Helichrysum newii at 5670 m near the eastern fumarole in Kibo's crater. Its woody stem, small leathery leaves and pale white flowers are compact at this altitude. It deserves its name as an everlasting.
|
volcanic rock
|
|
|
African most adventure
|
Above is shown a flower head of a Protea kilimandscharica, a large distinctive flower that makes its appearance in the upland grassland climatic zone at around 3300 m. It looks somewhat like a white globe-artichoke, with its very large flower and stiff leathery leaves. Nowhere is it abundant, but this is the commonest form on the mountain.
The flowers of this upland grassland are very striking.The most characteristic are the 'everlasting' flowers that grow in clumps and look rather prickly and stiff. A common one is Helichrysum meyerijohannis, whose single daisy-like flowers are red on the outside and pink in the centre. Helichrysum argyranthum has greenish-white flowers. Helichrysum kilimanjari has lemonscented leaves and yellow-brown flower heads. Taller, with yellow flowers in tight flattish clumps, is Helichrysum cymosum.
|
|
|
|
Favourite links
|
|
