Why is Rwenzori Mountains Called Mountains of the Moon
Why is Rwenzori mountains called mountains of the moon, Rwenzori mountains were named the “Mountains of the Moon” by the geographer Cladius
Ptolemy in AD 150 due to its snow capped peaks.
The Rwenzori mountains despite being located along the Equator have snow capped peaks and permanently glaciated peaks on Mount Stanley, Mount Baker and Mount Speke.
The Rwenzori mountains of the moon are located in the western region of Uganda that lies in the districts of Ntoroko, Kabarole, Bunyangabu, Kasese and Bundibugyo along the Uganda and Democratic Republic of congo.
The Rwenzori mountains ranges stretch across the Uganda-DR Congo Eastern border covering a distance of 120 Kilometres and a width of 75 Kilometres
The Rwenzori mountains of the moon were discovered by an explorer Henry Stanley who placed Rwenzori on the map on 24th May 1888. He labeled it “Ruwenzori” , a local name meaning “Rain Maker” which was recorded from the native bakonzo tribe that lives around the Rwenzori mountains slopes for many years.
The Rwenzori mountains ranges were formed three million years ago as a result of glaciations and rock up faults.
The Rwenzori mountains was first climbed by an Italian expedition that was led by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906 with an expedition that camped for several days at the Bujongolo rock shelter between Guy Yeoman hut and Lake Kitandara hut on the famous Central circuit trail.
The Rwenzori mountain ranges are protected by Rwenzori mountains national park in Uganda under the management of the Uganda wildlife authority and stretches to the Virunga national park in the Eastern DR Congo
The Rwenzori mountains were recognized as a world heritage site in 1994 and a Ramsar site in 2008.
The highest peak of the Rwenzori mountains is Margherita Peak, on Mount Stanley standing at 16,762 feet [5,109 m]. Margherita peak was named after Queen Margherita of Italy.
Rwenzori mountains besides being called the Mountains of the Moon, its named the Mystical challenge because its believed that the bakonzo god kithasamba lives in the mountains at higher elevations where it always becomes much colder, with snow and ice.
The Rwenzori mountains ranges comprises of six major mountains that make up the Rwenzori ranges.
Namely,
- Mount Stanley : [ 5,109m]
- Mount Speke: [ 4,890m]
- Mount Baker: [ 4843m]
- Mount Emin: [ 4798m]
- Mount Gessi: [ 4715m]
- Mount Luigi Di Savoia: [4620m]
The Rwenzori mountains of the moon are the third highest mountain in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya and the highest peak in both Uganda and DR Congo
Reaching the highest point; Margherita peak on the Rwenzori mountains of the moon requires technical mountaineering experience on a multi day trek in the Rwenzori mountains.
The snowcapped peaks can be witnessed and seen on a clear day from Kasese along the Kasese – Fort portal highway during the day or late in the night during a full moon.
How to get to the Rwenzori mountains of the moon
The Rwenzori mountains of the moon can be accessed by road from Kampala a distance of 375 Kilometres or by air flying from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kasese Airfield in Kasese town.
