Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Volcanoes in Kenya

There are many volcanoes in Kenya these include North Island, Central Island, South Island, Marsabit, The barrier, Namarunu, Segererua Plateau, Emuruangogolak, Silali, Paka, Bagoria, Korosi, Ol Kokwe, Nyambeni hills, Menengai, Homa mountain, Elmanteita badlands, Ol doinyo, Eburru, Olkaria, Longonot, Suswa and the Chyulu hills. But i am only goin to focus on 2 of them being Longonot and Marsabit.



Longonot is a dormant Volcanoe meaning it is sleeping at the moment but could still erupt anytime. Its found in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya in a place called Niavasha about 100km west of Nairobi. Longonot is an early composite volcanoe with a diameter of 30km with a caldera formation with a diameter of 12km, although deposits from the eruption almost filled the caldera. On the Northern side of the volcanoe is a well preserved perasitic cone and recent looking lava. In 2009 more than 4,600 hectares of bushland on Mt Longonot were destroyed due to bush fires, some of the larger animals escaped although many of the little ones were caught by the fire in the crater.

Marsabit volcanoe is found in Northern Kenya, East of Lake Turkana, Its a large sheild volcanoe with 180 conder cones and 22 maars (a low relief volcanic crater, caused by groundwater coming in contact with lava or magma). The Maars are up to 2.5km in Diameter. Marsabit is the only 1 of 4 major sheild volcanoes in Kenya that contains many maars. This is due to the the Chalbi basin which is the main groundwater sink in Kenya.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Kenya's coast

Kenya is a great place to kick back and relax!! The place i recommend for a relaxing holiday in the sun is the Kenyan coast!!



Amongst the unspoilled palm fringe of the coast are many different areas all with pure white sand and crystal clear water. There are many historic features along the East african coast of Kenya such as Mida ruins in Gede. There are many mixed cultures and beautifully carved Arab doors in the north coast of Kenya.



The coast of Kenya is divided into five main places Lamu, Malindi, Watamu, Kilifi and Mombasa. All very popular with the tourists! Lamu is more basic with only boats and Donkeys for transport. Its very beautiful and mainly Arabic people in this area. Travelling more South to Malindi a very crowded little town Packed with Boda bodas (Taxi on a bike) and Tuk tuks (small 3 wheel motorbike sort of cars). This area is very popular with the Italians as they all start up businesses here and spend half thier year in Kenya and the other half in Italy. Moving further down the coast is a smaller village called Watamu that is very popular with the white Kenyans as they all meet here for fishing trips. Watamu has a creek further down the south of it which is great for water sports. Kilfi is more of a calming relaxing area just to kick back and chill. And the main built up part of the coast is Mombasa with many hotels shopping centres and a huge port.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Information and History

You will find Kenya on the coast of East Africa along the Indian Ocean, with the lowest point being there and the highest point at the tip of Mt Kenya. The Capital of Kenya is Nairobi where most Kenyans are based, with an altitude of 17,700 meters (5,500 feet) even though Nairobi is near the equator, its high elevation brings cooler air. To the West of Nairobi you will find beautiful views of the Great Rift Valley running from South to North-The valley floor is at its lowest near lake Turkana in the deserts of northern Kenya.

Kenya is known as one of Africa's most stable countries after it achieved independence from Britian in 1963. But more recently corruption has become an undermining force

Forty ethnic groups including Maasai cattle hearders, Kikuyu farmers crowd the countryside as it is still home to 3quarters of the country's people.

Kenya has a popultion of 39,002,772 to cover the 580,367 sq metres of land it holds surrounded by the 5 countries somalia,Sudan,Ethiopia,Tanzania and Uganda.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Where the sun shines

Hey my name is Amy and this is my blog on Kenya!! It will give you a little view of the country and activities which take place there. In this you can learn a bit about the country including the currency and capital all the way to safaris and beach holidays in the sun!!