|
In the 2nd Century, C.E. Greek geographer Ptolemy wrote of the existence of snow capped mountains near the Equator in Africa. The idea seemed preposterous. Yet, for centuries the rumour of these mountains – which Ptolemy named Lunae Montes or Mountains of the Moon – persisted. However the search for the mountains of the moon proved futile. That was until one day in the late nineteenth century when Henry Stanley – who won fame for finding Dr. David Livingstone – happened to be in the right place at the right time. Normally cloud cover would obscure the mountains from onlookers, but this day the clouds began to dissipate and Stanley was given a glimpse of a group of snow capped mountains. Stanley had found the Mountains of the Moon. He referred to them, however, by the name that the native Africans knew them by – Ruwenzori or ‘Rainmaker.’
More than a century after Stanley’s discovery, the Mountains of the Moon still maintain an aura of mystery. Lying just north of the Equator, the Ruwenzori Mountains provide a natural barrier between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The mountains stretch some eighty miles long and are about thirty miles wide. The mountains are different from most mountain ranges in East Africa in that they are not of volcanic origin. Rather they are a huge block of the earth’s crust that was thrust upward millenniums ago by enormous geologic pressures. The mountains reach a peak of 16,763 feet. They are, however, rarely visible to onlookers as a result of the mists and clouds that enshroud them.
The Ruwenzori Mountains were so named because of the abundance of snow and rain that occur in their vicinity. The dry season is, in fact, only slightly drier than the wet season. The area is, therefore, rather difficult to traverse. In some areas the mud can be waist deep. The continual rain has, over time, carved out a number of beautiful lakes that feature a number of unusual plants. Some of these grow to enormous sizes. An example of this is the lobelia, which elsewhere is lucky to reach a peak of one foot. In the Ruwenzori area, however, the lobelia can reach twenty feet in size. The mountain slopes are also covered by thick vegetation, including moss covered heath trees which can reach forty feet in height. All sorts of flowers add beautiful dabs of color to the region.
The Ruwenzori area is also home to a wide array of bird and animal life. Many of the birds here are unique to the Ruwenzori area. Animals that can be found here include elephants, chimpanzees, bushbuck, leopards and colobus monkeys.
If you are ever fortunate enough to hike up the Ruwenzori Mountains, you will pass through a tropical rain forest. You will also cross the Bujuku River a number of times. At an altitude of 11,000 feet you will be rewarded with a stunning view behind you down into the Rift Valley. Continuing up you will reach the lower Bigo Bog, an area of tussock grass and heath trees. Here is where you are likely to encounter knee deep mud. After negotiating this, you will have a steep climb up to the Upper Bigo Bog and then Lake Bujuku, at the top of the Bujuku Valley. You will now be some 13,000 feet up.
Continuing up you will come to the permanent Elena Glacier. To get up the Glacier you will need to put on climbing irons and use an ice axe and ropes to climb up the glacier. From here a walk across the Stanley Plateau will lead to Margherita Peak at the top of Mount Stanley. You have now reached the highest peak of the Ruwenzori Mountains. Looking down from here you will have an awesome view of the surrounding valleys, forests and lakes.
The Mountains of the Moon are still a mystery to us, however. Much is still unknown about the mountain range’s geology, animal and plant life. But, at least we now know that the Mountains of the Moon which Ptolemy spoke about nearly two thousands years ago do, in fact, exist on the earth.
|
| |
