Mount Karisimbi

Mount Karisimbi
Karisimbi summit seen from the campsite in 2005
Highest point
Elevation4,507 m (14,787 ft)[1]
Prominence3,312 m (10,866 ft)[1]
Ranked 61st
ListingCountry high point
Ultra
Coordinates1°30′30″S 29°26′42″E / 1.50833°S 29.44500°E / -1.50833; 29.44500[1]
Geography
Mount Karisimbi is located in Rwanda
Mount Karisimbi
Mount Karisimbi
Location of Mount Karisimbi in Rwanda (on the border with the DRC)
LocationDemocratic Republic of the Congo - Rwanda border
Parent rangeVirunga Mountains
Geology
Mountain typeStratovolcano
Last eruption8050 BCE (?)

Mount Karisimbi a stratovolcano in the Virunga Mountains on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. At 4,507 metres (14,787 ft), Karisimbi is the highest of the eight major mountains of the mountain range, which is a part of Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift. Karisimbi is flanked by Mikeno to the north, Bisoke to the east and Nyiragongo to the west, on the other side of the Rift Valley. Karisimbi is the 11th highest mountain of Africa.

The name Karisimbi comes from the word 'amasimbi', which means snow in the local Kinyarwanda language. Snow can mostly be found during the dry season in June, July and August on the top of the volcano.

Between Karisimbi and Bisoke is the Karisoke Research Center, which was founded by Dian Fossey in order to observe the mountain gorillas living in this area.

  1. ^ a b c "Africa Ultra-Prominences" Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2011-11-20.