Topic > Great Mount Kenya: A Geographical Analysis

Great Mount Kenya is located in Kenya and based on its height; it is the highest mountain in Kenya and statistically considered the second highest mountain in Africa, after Kilimanjaro. Mount Kenya has several highest peaks which include; Lenana, Batian and Nelion. A portion of the mountain, about 276 square miles, is set aside as a National Park. Furthermore, it is also designated as a World Heritage site, which makes it very attractive and attracts a large number of visitors as tourists every year (Eggermont & Verschuren, 2007). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Mount Kenya is located about 150 kilometers from Kenya's capital, Nairobi. The nearby location makes it convenient for those who want to practice mountaineering and hiking. Other activities done on the mountain include bird watching and observing the large wildlife found around the mountain. There is also a greater or higher number of bird species that can be seen by tourists visiting the mountain. Geographically, Mount Kenya is located within the Mount Kenya National Park. The mountain is considered quite difficult to climb to the summit due to its nature. This implies that it requires a lot of practice and exercise before making several attempts towards the summit (Eggermont & Verschuren, 2007). The mountain is an extinct volcano which makes it less dangerous for climbers to climb to the top without any volcanic eruption that could cause death. This makes the mountain much more conducive year-round for activities such as hiking. However, during the rainy season it usually becomes very difficult due to the mud and the risk of slipping. The mountain is made up of different regions or zones which include; the Afro-Alpine heathland which is largely vegetated fields, the rocky peak area and the broad lower slopes which are largely covered with forests and other forms of vegetation in the area (Eggermont & Verschuren, 2007). Like an overwhelming sight, the mountain dominates the highlands found in central Kenya. Ecological diversity is considered one of the attractive sceneries of the mountain which attracts a large number of tourists. Apart from tourists, a large number of scientists are also attracted to the site for research purposes and other academic work. Extensive research has revealed that there are more than 80 different species of plants that are not found in any other region of the world. This becomes a factor that intrigues scientists and even tourists from different parts of the world to visit the mountain and study such natural resources and features. The lower region which is the forest zone is full of many wild animals such as monkeys who are attracted to the trees, stonethrows, buffaloes, elephants and Sykes. Some wild animals have the ability to climb different regions of the mountain while others, such as elephants, cannot do so due to their large and heavy bodies (Eggermont & Verschuren, 2007). Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay Mount Kenya has a large number of fans who are fascinated by the hiking process and this makes it one of the best mountains for an expedition. The mountain also helps many people in the area by serving as a source for the Tana River, which is also the largest river in Kenya. There are several routes for those who want to climb the mountain and also several hotels to relax after the expedition (Eggermont & Verschuren, 2007).