Mount Karisimbi

Description

Mount Karisimbi is the highest of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains. It is a huge dome, now dormant, that dominates the range, more in girth than in height. Its name in Kinyaruanda means white shell, which refers to its often white-capped summit. Interestingly, this cap results not from snow but from hail and sleet which accumulate in the higher elevations from its frequent storms. It is located within the Parc National Des Volcans, and many of the volcanoes are connected by good trails.

Additional text submitted by Al Smiles:

Karisimbi is the highest of the eight major volcanoes of the Virunga field, a western branch of the East African rift valley.This stratovolcano is part of a group of volcanoes in the Bufumbira field which is an eastern region of Virunga. Karisimbi lavas have been dated from 0.24 Ma to 0.010 Ma. These samples indicate that this volcano is a very young.

The going is quite steep and good navigation is required not only through the lower slopes, but also on the mountain itself. It consists of secondry jungle and in the most gives an earie appearence. It is close the the jungle HQ of Dianne Fossey the renouned gorrila expert. There is no definable route up the mountain.

• Mount Karisimbi - Wikipedia