The spectacular massif of Kilimanjaro occurs 80 km to the east of the Gregory Rift Valley in a faulted terrane characterized by Neogene volcanism. One of the world's largest free-standing mountains, Kilimanjaro crops out over an area measuring 80 km by 48 km and towers some 5,000 m above the East African plateau. Three discrete volcanic centres are identified. The lowest peaks, Shira (4,006 m) and Mawenzi (5,149) are eroded remnants of extinct cones. The highest peak, Kibo (5,895 m) is dormant with minor fumaroles in the relatively young summit crater. The main episodes of volcanism at Kibo overlapped with Pleistocene glacial epochs. The fast-receding icefields and glaciers are remnants of younger ice that formed prior to onset of the Holocene.
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