Mount Kilimanjaro is an iconic mountain in Tanzania with an elevation of 19,341 feet above sea level, making it the highest peak in Africa. It is one of the world’s most famous mountains and is visited by thousands of people each year. Here are some interesting facts about Mt. Kilimanjaro for kids and some fun activities to learn more about it.
Interesting Facts About Mt. Kilimanjaro
Mt. Kilimanjaro is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, meaning that it is not part of a mountain range or volcano. It is made up of three volcanic cones—Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. Kibo is the highest peak.
The mountain is also home to a variety of wildlife, including elephants, leopards, antelopes, buffaloes, and hyenas. There are also many species of birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
Mt. Kilimanjaro has six different vegetation zones, ranging from the summit’s barren landscape to the lush tropical rainforest at the base of the mountain. The mountain also gets an average of 80 centimeters of rain a year, mostly in the rainy season.
Fun Activities to Learn About Mt. Kilimanjaro
Kids can learn about Mt. Kilimanjaro in a variety of fun and educational ways.
One fun activity is to create a model of the mountain. Kids can use clay, paper mache, or other materials to recreate the mountain’s three famed volcanic cones.
Another activity is to create a diorama of the different vegetation zones of the mountain. Kids can use a shoe box or other containers and cut out pictures of trees, animals, and other elements from magazines to recreate the different vegetation zones.
Kids can also make a 3-D map of the mountain. They can use Styrofoam to create the different peaks and valleys of the mountain and then use markers to draw in the different vegetation zones.
Mt. Kilimanjaro is an iconic and impressive mountain with an amazing variety of wildlife and vegetation. Kids can learn more about it through a variety of fun and educational activities. With these activities, kids can explore the mountain and gain a deeper understanding of its unique beauty.