Mount Karisimbi

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

Mount Karisimbi
Karisimbi summit seen from the campsite in 2005
Elevation	4,507 m (14,787 ft) [1]
Prominence	3,312 m (10,866 ft) [1]
Listing	Country high point Ultra
Location
Mount Karisimbi Location of Mount Karisimbi in Rwanda (on the border with the DRC)
Location	Democratic Republic of the Congo  Rwanda
Range	Virunga Mountains
Coordinates	1°30′30″S 29°26′42″E / 1.50833°S 29.445°E / -1.50833; 29.445Coordinates: 1°30′30″S 29°26′42″E / 1.50833°S 29.445°E / -1.50833; 29.445[1]
Geology
Type	Stratovolcano
Last eruption	unknown

Mount Karisimbi is an inactive volcano 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 the East African Rift Valley. 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.

The name Karisimbi probably comes a word in the local language, Kinyarwanda, which means Little white shell. This is an allusion to the white snow cap that can sometimes be found on 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.

See also

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

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Africa Ultra-Prominences" Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2011-11-20.

References

• "Karisimbi". Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0203-04-.