Mount Karisimbi

For the commune in Nord-Kivu, see Karisimbi (commune).

Mount Karisimbi
Karisimbi summit seen from the campsite in 2005
Highest point
Elevation	4,507 m (14,787 ft)
Prominence	3,312 m (10,866 ft) Ranked 61st
Isolation	207 km (129 mi)
Listing	Country high point Ultra
Coordinates	1°30′30″S 29°26′42″E
Geography
Mount Karisimbi Location of Mount Karisimbi in Rwanda (on the border with the DRC)
Location	Democratic Republic of the Congo - Rwanda border
Parent range	Virunga Mountains
Geology
Mountain type	Stratovolcano
Last eruption	8050 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' in the local language, Kinyarwanda, which means snow. 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.

History

On February 27, 1908, an expedition led by Egon Von Kirschstein was coming down the Branca Crater when a hailstorm and snowstorm caused twenty of the expedition's porters to perish.

In May 2010, a series of non-volcanic mudflows triggered by rain occurred along the volcano's western flank. The mudflows carried volcanic rocks and vegetation debris downhill. At Kibiriga, the mudflows caused severe damage and killed at least 50 people.

See also

• List of volcanoes in Rwanda
• List of Ultras of Africa

References

• "Volcan Karisimbi, Rwanda/Congo DRC". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2013-02-10.