The Mountain Behind The Mountain
The Mountain Behind The Mountain
Standing at an elevation of 13,680 feet, Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the tallest peaks in Africa. It’s also a perfect illustration of how we are conditioned to think that a mountain is just a mountain, and not more than just its height.
The word “mountain” comes from the Latin word “mons” meaning high ground or hill. So then what's the difference between a hill and mountain? Elevation! What's special about Kilimanjaro? Well, it has to do with altitude. If you're at least 7,000 feet above sea level — as Mt. Kilimanjaro is — and you're on a clear day, you're at an elevation of over 13,000 feet, which is high enough to qualify as a mountain.
There's more to it than that. For starters, there are the two summits of Kilimanjaro: the highest point, Uhuru Peak and the neighboring Machame Peak. Then there's the saddle between Uhuru Peak and Mawenzi. And finally, in addition to its height and distance from base camp (a 5-day hike for most people), there are also various other features that make Mt.