Geomorphology of mount Kenya region

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GEOMORPHOLOGICAL FORMATION OF MOUNT
KENYA
Ogondo J.A.
National Museums of Kenya
Earth Sciences Department
Geology Section
P.O Box 40658-00100
Nairobi-Kenya
Summary
Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second highest in Africa, after
Kilimanjaro. The highest peaks of the mountain are Batian (5,199 metres ), Nelion
(5,188 metres ) and Point Lenana (4,985 metres ). Mount Kenya is located in central Kenya, just
south of the equator, around (150 kilometres) north-northeast of the capital Nairobi.
Mount Kenya is a stratovolcano created approximately 3 million years after the opening of the
East African rift. It was covered by an ice cap for thousands of years. This has resulted in a lot of
eroded slopes and numerous valleys radiating from the centre. There are currently 11 small
glaciers. The mountain is an important source of water for much of Kenya.
The volcano was first observed in 1849 by Johann Ludwig Krapf but the scientific community
remained skeptical about his reports of snow and ice so close to the equator. The existence of
Mount Kenya was confirmed in 1883 and it was first explored in 1887. The summit was finally
climbed by a team led by Halford John Mackinder in 1899. Today there are many walking routes,
climbs and huts on the mountain.
There are eight distinct vegetation bands from the base to the summit. The lower slopes are
covered by different types of forest, an area of 715 square kilometers around the centre of the
mountain and is designated a National Park and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Introduction:
Mount Kenya is a stratovolcano that was active in the Plio-Pleistocene (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1: A cutaway diagram of a stratovolcan
1

A stratovolcano, (or a composite volcano),[1] is a tall, conical volcano with many layers
(strata) of hardened lava, tephra, and volcanic ash. Stratovolcanoes are characterized
by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions. The lava that flows from
stratovolcanoes tends to be viscous; it cools and hardens before spreading far. The
magma forming this lava is often felsic, having high-to-intermediate levels of silica (as in
rhyolite, dacite, or andesite), with lesser amounts of less-viscous mafic magma.
Stratovolcanoes are among the most common types of volcanoes, and can be
contrasted with the less common shield volcanoes. They are common in subduction
zones, forming chains along plate tectonic boundaries where oceanic crust is drawn
under continental crust (Continental Arc Volcanism, e.g. Cascade Range, central
Andes) or another oceanic plate (Island arc Volcanism, e.g. Japan, Aleutian Island, Fig.
2).
Fig. 2: Mount Kenya was a stratovolcano and probably looked similar to the Fuji Mountain in Japan before the glaciations.
The lower slopes are still this shape, which is how the previous height is estimated.
Geomorphological History
Mt. Kenya is about 3 million years old, whose base diameter is about 120km. The
original cone was possibly over 6000m, high but erosion, mainly glacial, has worn away
the original upper part of this and left in its place a jagged glacial topography of knife-
edge ridges, pyramidal peaks. The original crater was probably over 6,000 metres high;
higher than Kilimanjaro.
The geology of the Mount Kenya area was first considered by Joseph Thomson in 1883.
He saw the mountain from the nearby Laikipia Plateau and wrote that it was an extinct
volcano with the plug exposed.[20] However, as he had only seen the mountain from a
distance his description was not widely believed, particularly after 1887 when Teleki and
von Höhnel ascended the mountain and described what they considered to be the
crater.[9] In 1893 Gregory's expedition reached the Lewis Glacier at 5,000 metres
(16,400 ft). He confirmed that the volcano was extinct and that there were glaciers
present.[9][34] The first thorough survey was not undertaken until 1966.[33]
2

The rocks that form Mt Kenya are mainly basalts, rhomb porphyrites, phonolites,
kenytes and trachytes.[33] Kenyte was first reported by Gregory in 1900 (Fig. 3) following
his study of the geology of Mount Kenya.[34]
Fig 3: Geologically Surveyed By Baker B.H and Jennings D.H from 1958 to 1959
When Mt Kenya was active there was some satellite activity. The north-eastern side of
the mountain has many old volcanic plugs and craters. The largest of these, Ithanguni,
even had its own ice cap when the main peaks were covered in ice (Fig. 4). This can be
seen by the smoothed summit of the peak. Circular hills with steep sides are also
frequent in this area, which are probably the remains of small plugged vents. However,
3

as the remaining mountain is roughly symmetrical, most of the activity must have
occurred at the central plug.[33]
Fig 4: Sunrise over Mount Kenya
Since it became extinct there have been two major periods of glaciation, (Fig. 5) which
are shown by two main rings of moraines below the glaciers. The lowest moraine is
found at around 3,300 metres (10,800 ft).[33] Today the glaciers reach no lower than
4,650 metres .[2] After studying the moraines, Gregory put forward the theory that at one
time the whole summit of the mountain was covered with an ice cap, and it was this that
eroded the peaks to how they are today.[5]
The lower slopes of the mountain have never been glaciated (Fig. 5). They are now
mainly cultivated and forested. They are distinguished by steep-sided V-shaped valleys
with many tributaries. Higher up the mountain, in the area that is now moorland, the
valleys become U-shaped and shallower with flatter bottoms. These were created by
glaciation.[33]
4

Fig 5: Glacial deposits of Mount Kenya
The Volcanic Peaks
5

Figure 6: The main peaks and glaciers of Mount Kenya are near the centre of the mountain.
The peaks of Mount Kenya are almost all from a volcanic origin. The majority of the
peaks are located near the centre of the mountain. These peaks have an Alpine
appearance due to their craggy nature. Typically of Alpine terrain, the highest peaks
and gendarmes occur at the intersection of ridges.[6] The central peaks only have a few
mosses, lichens and small alpine plants growing in rock crevices.[13] Further away from
the central peaks, the volcanic plugs are covered in volcanic ash and soils.[35] The
vegetation growing on these peaks is typical for the vegetation band they are in.
The highest peaks are Batian (5,199 metres (17,057 ft)), Nelion (5,188 metres
(17,021 ft)) and Pt Lenana (4,985 metres (16,355 ft)). Batian and Nelion are only
250 metres (270 yd) apart but separated by the Gates of Mist gap, which is equally
deep.[2] Coryndon Peak (4,960 metres (16,273 ft)) is the next highest, but unlike the
previous peaks it does not form a part of the central plug.[6]
Other peaks around the central plug include Pt Piggot (4,957 metres (16,263 ft)), Pt
Dutton (4,885 metres (16,027 ft)), Pt John (4,883 metres (16,020 ft)), Pt John Minor
(4,875 metres (15,994 ft)), Krapf Rognon (4,800 metres (15,748 ft)), Pt Peter
(4,757 metres (15,607 ft)), Pt Slade (4,750 metres (15,584 ft)) and Midget Peak
(4,700 metres (15,420 ft)). All of these have a steep pyramidal form.[2][6]
6

Significant craggy outlying peaks include Terere (4,714 metres (15,466 ft)) and
Sendeyo (4,704 metres (15,433 ft)) which form a pair of twin peaks to the north of the
main plug. Together, they form a large parasitic plug. Other notable peaks include The
Hat (4,639 metres (15,220 ft)), Delamere Peak, Macmillan Peak and Rotundu.[2]
Fig, 7: Batian on the left, Nelion on the
right, and Slade in the foreground
Fig. 8: Lenana, the third highest
peak, is the most ascended.
Fig. 9: Krapf Rognon (4,800 metres (15,748 ft))
and Krapf glacier
Fig. 10: Midget peak can be climbed in
a day.[21]
Fig. 11: Terere and Sendeyo are
two craggy outlying peaks
Fig .12: Mugi hill and the Giant's Billards Table
offers some of the best hillwalking in Kenya.[30]
Mount Kenya Glaciers
Fig. 13: The Lewis glacier is the largest on Mount Kenya
The glaciers on Mount Kenya are retreating rapidly. The Mountain Club of Kenya in
Nairobi has photographs showing the mountain when it was first climbed in 1899, and
again more recently, and the retreat of the glaciers is very evident.[36][37] Descriptions of
ascents of several of the peaks advise on the use of crampons, but now there is no ice
to be found. There is no new snow to be found, even on the Lewis Glacier (the largest
of them) in winter, so no new ice will be formed. It is predicted to be less than 30 years
before there will no longer be ice on Mount Kenya.[30]
7

The glacier names are (clockwise from the north):
Northey, Krapf, Gregory, Lewis, Diamond, Darwin, Forel, Heim, Tyndall, Cesar, Josef.
Fig .14: Frost heaving causes patterned ground below Mugi Hill.
The area of glaciers on the mountain was measured in the 1980s, and recorded as
about 0.7 square kilometres (0.27 sq mi).[38] This is far smaller than the first
observations, made in the 1890s.
Periglacial landforms
Mount Kenya is on the equator the freezing nightly temperatures result in periglacial
landforms. There is permafrost a few centimetres (inches) below the surface. Patterned
ground is present at 3,400 metres (11,155 ft) to the west of Mugi Hill.[6][2] These mounds
grow because of the repeated freezing and thawing of the ground drawing in more
water. There are blockfields present around 4,000 metres (13,123 ft) where the ground
has cracked to form hexagons. Solifluction occurs when the night temperatures freeze
the soil before it thaws again in the morning. This daily expansion and contraction of the
soil prevents the establishment of vegetation.[21]
Vegetation Zones
8

Fig. 15: There are distinct vegetation zones around Mount Kenya which vary according to altitude and aspect.
The climate of Mount Kenya changes considerably with altitude. Around the base of the
mountain is fertile farmland. The tribes living around the mountain have cultivated this
cool relatively moist area for centuries[42].
Mount Kenya is surrounded by forests. The vegetation in the forests depends on
rainfall, and the species present differ greatly between the northern and southern
slopes.[8] As time has passed the trees on the edge of the forest have been logged and
the farmland has encroached further up the fertile slopes of the mountain.[42]
Above the forest is a belt of bamboo. This zone is almost continuous, but is unable to
grow in the north because there is not enough rainfall. The bamboo is entirely natural,[21]
and prevents many animals from living further up the mountain. Tracks are common
through the bamboo. They are made by large animals such as elephants and buffalo
when they fight their ways higher. They do not spend long within the bamboo, as it is all
inedible except for tender new shoots. Bamboo suppresses other vegetation, so it is
uncommon to find trees or other plants here.[2]
9

Fig. 16: The timberline forest is commonly in cloud. The trees are relatively small and covered in lichens.
Above the bamboo is the timberline forest. The trees here are often smaller than the
trees in the forests lower down the mountain.[43]
When the trees can no longer grow the vegetation changes into heathland and
chaparral. Heathland is found in the wetter areas, on the west side of Mount Kenya, and
is dominated by giant heathers. Chaparral is found in the drier areas and grasses are
more common.[21] The ground here is often waterlogged, but bush fires are still frequent.
[42]
As the altitude increases the temperature fluctuations become extreme and the air
becomes thinner and drier. This region is known as the Afro-alpine zone. The
environment here is very isolated, with the only similar area nearby being the
Aberdares, which are 80 kilometres (50 mi) away[13]. Many of the species here are
endemic, with adaptations to the cold and fluctuating temperatures.[44] Typical plants
here include giant groundsels (senecios) and giant lobelias.[13]
The region where the glaciers have recently retreated from is nival zone. It is the area
that plants have not yet been able to colonise. On Mount Kenya this zone is not
continuous as the glaciers are no longer continuous.[13]
Walking routes
10

Fig 17: Map showing the walking routes and huts around Mount Kenya
There are eight walking routes up to the main peaks. Starting clockwise from the north
these are the: Meru, Chogoria, Kamweti, Naro Moru, Burguret, Sirimon and Timau
Routes.[2] Of these Chogoria, Naro Moru and Sirimon and used most frequently and
therefore have staffed gates. The other routes require special permission from the
Kenya Wildlife Service to use.[30][59]
The Chogoria route leads from Chogoria town up to the peaks circuit path. It heads
through the forest to the south-east of the mountain to the moorland, with views over
areas such as Ithanguni and the Giant's Billiards Table before following the Gorges
Valley past the Temple and up to Simba Col below Point Lenana.[2] The Mountain Club
of Kenya claims that Ithanguni and the Giant's Billards Table offer some of the best
hillwalking in Kenya.[21]
The Naro Moru route is taken by many of the trekkers who try to reach Point Lenana. It
can be ascended in only 3 days and has bunkhouses at each camp. The route starts at
Naro Moru town to the west of the mountain and climbs towards Mackinder's Camp on
the Peak Circuit Path.[59] The terrain is usually good, although one section is called the
Vertical Bog.[21]
The Sirimon route approaches Mount Kenya from the north-west. [2] The path splits on
the moorlands, with the more frequently used fork following the Mackinder Valley and
the quieter route traversing into the Liki North Valley.[2] The paths rejoin at Shipton's
Cave just below Shipton's Camp on the Peak Circuit Path.[21]
11

The Peak Circuit Path is a path around the main peaks, with a distance of about
10 kilometres (6 mi) and height gain and loss of over 2,000 metres (6,600 ft).[2] It can be
walked in one day, but more commonly takes two or three. It can also be used to join
different ascent and descent routes. The route does not require technical climbing.[22][59]
Fig. 18: The Gorges Valley is a major
feature on the Chogoria Route. Fig. 19: Vertical bog on Mount
Kenya on the Naro Moru Route.Fig. 20: Looking towards the peaks up the
Mackinder Valley on the Sirimon Route.
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