The snows of Kilimanjaro recede into history

The white cap of Africa's highest peak, celebrated by Ernest Hemingway in "The Snows of the Kilimanjaro", is showing signs of melt-down.

The meaning of the name "Kilimanjaro" is disputed: "White Mountain", "Mountain of Water", "Mountain of Caravans" (i.e., a landmark), among other variations, have all been offered as interpretations.

In the Masai, western summit is know as "Ngaje Ngaje" or "House of God".

Whatever the onlooker chooses to call Africa's highest peak, it looks distinctly undressed with its diminished white crest, which researchers believe represents only about one-fifth of its former glory. In the next 20 years, the white peak is likely to disappear all together.

Once again, the changing climate is thought to be the harbinger of Kilimanjaro's fall from grace.

While visitors may feel that the 'House of God' is not quite the same, scientists fear more serious consequences than the complaints of vista-sensitive tourists.

The mountains precious river system could be affected by the lack of an ice-field, which will impact on the human inhabitants of the area.

There is one consolation: the mountain itself, which stands at almost 20,000 ft above sea-level, is unlikely to shrink by much. © James A. Oliver 2003

Posted: 27 October 2002

 

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