Rwenzori Mountains - African Moon Mountains

Rwenzori Mountains - African Moon Mountains

Africa not only has deserts and droughts, but also particularly humid areas. Mount Rwenzori, also known as the Mountain of the Moon, is a magical place!

As a snow peak on the equator, the biggest feature of this mountain is the dense clouds and rain, and the diversity of species! There are 300 days a year covered by dense clouds. From the bottom of the mountain to the top of the mountain, there are various rare and unique animals and plants distributed in a stepped pattern.

Rwenzori Mountain is located on one side of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa, between Lake Mobutu and Lake Edward, with an average altitude of 3000~4km. The top of the mountain is covered with snow all year round. There are nearly 40 glaciers in the entire mountain range. Permanent glacier coverage.

The highest peak of Rwenzori Mountain is Margherita Peak with an altitude of 5109m, which is the third highest peak in Africa!

The climate of the Rwenzori Mountains varies with the height and orientation of the mountain, creating a complex and diverse area suitable for a variety of flora and fauna. There are many mountain passes, criss-crossed canyons, and many glaciers and small lakes. The glacier on the top of the mountain is also one of the water sources of the Nile River.

The fog on the mountain makes the surrounding area constantly moist, which promotes the growth of plants. The soil here is fertile and there is a lot of humus, so the plants here are unusually tall and rare.

There are cedar, camphor pine, podocarpus and other tree species above 1200m above sea level, and some trees are close to 50m high. Around 2500m, there are bamboos up to 15m high. The area above 3km is even more magical. Moss, ferns and other plants are not only surprisingly tall, but also have strange shapes and are spectacular!

Not only are there many birds, but also a variety of wild animals such as monkeys, rabbits, elephants, orangutans, giraffes, antelopes, etc.!

Rwenzori Mountain was included in the World Heritage List as a natural heritage in 1994! With global climate warming, the glaciers on the Rwenzori Mountains are also receding rapidly, and the future is not optimistic! Reducing carbon emissions and protecting the earth's ecological environment still require the concerted efforts of people all over the world!