Mount Karisimbi

Mount Karisimbi
Karisimbi summit seen from the campsite in 2005
Mount Karisimbi Location of Mount Karisimbi in Rwanda (on the border with the DRC)
Elevation	4,507 metres (14,787 ft)
Location	Rwanda– Democratic Republic of the Congo
Range	Virunga Mountains
Prominence	3,312 metres (10,866 ft)
Coordinates	1°30′00″S 29°27′00″E / 1.5°S 29.45°E / -1.5; 29.45Coordinates: 1°30′00″S 29°27′00″E / 1.5°S 29.45°E / -1.5; 29.45
Type	Stratovolcano
Last eruption	unknown
Listing	Country high point Ultra

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

References

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

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