Kenya's Geography  Kenya lies astride the equator on the eastern coast of Africa. Kenya is bordered in the north by Sudan and Ethiopia, in the east by Somalia, on the southeast by the Indian Ocean, on the southwest by Tanzania and to the west by Lake Victoria and Uganda.

Kenya is notable for its' geographical variety. The low-lying, fertile coastal region, fringed with coral reefs and islands, is back by a gradually rising coastal plain, a dry region covered with savanna and thorn bush.

At an altitude of about 1,524 m and 300 miles inland, the plain gives way in the southwest to a high plateau, rising in parts to 3,048 m, in which about 85% of the population and the majority of economic enterprise are concentrated. The northern section of Kenya, forming three-fifths of the whole territory, is arid and of semi desert character, as is the bulk of the southeastern quarter. In the high plateau area, known as the Kenya Highlands, lie Mt. Kenya (5,200 m), Mt Elgon (4,322m) and the Aberdare Ranger (rising to over 3,963 m). The plateau is bisected from north to south by the Rift Valley, part of the great geological fracture that can be traced from Syria through the Red Sea and East Africa to Mozambique. In the north of Kenya, the valley is broad and shallow, embracing Lake Turkana (160 miles long), while further south it narrows and deepens and is walled by escarpments 610 to 930 meters high. West of the Rift Valley, the plateau descends to the plains that border Lake Victoria. The principal rivers are the Tana and the Athi, flowing southeast to the Indian Ocean, the Ewaso Ngiro flowing northeast to the swamps of the Lorian Plain, and the Nzoia, Yala and Gori, which drain eastward into Lake Victoria. Low plains rise to central highlands, divided by the Great African Rift Valley.

THE RIFT VALLEY
The Great Africa Rift Valleys runs from North to South through the whole of Kenya. The Kenyan Rift Valley is a section of 6 000 km rift system which stretches from the Dead Sea in the Middle East, south through the Red Sea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and into Mozambique. Its' narrowest point is just north of Nairobi and the whole area contains several lakes, extinct volcanos and small game parks. Major geological upheavals caused a series of lakes in Kenya, some of which (Turkana, Naivasha and Baringo) are freshwater, but the others are soda lakes, with a high saline content. These are rich in algae and tiny crustaceans, which are the main food sources for the millions of flamingos gracing the lakes.

The upheavals also resulted in the sprouting of volcanic mountains, including Longonot and Mt Kenya. The scenery in the Rift Valley is breathtaking and particularly at the viewing points just north of Limuru and Naivasha and from the top of the Mau escarpment on the Kericho road. The approach, via road or rail, from Nairobi will take you up gently through the highlands and bring you suddenly to the edge of the Rift valley, which drops away to a ribbon of green in the valley floor below.

Mount Kenya
In the Central highlands a couple of hundred kilometers north of the equator lays Mt Kenya an extinct volcano, Africa's second highest mountain at 5,199mtrs. Mt Kenya is located 180km north of Nairobi. It's snow-capped peaks; Batain and Nelion are in view for miles around on the clear day. These peaks are regularly scaled by experience climbers, though few make it to the very top. Lenana, the third peak, is the most popular for climbing as it is relatively easy. The scenery is stunning and quite breathtaking. It is also a botanist's paradise, with a wide variation in flora as the altitude changes.

Hells Gate
Situated in the environs of Lake Naivasha, about 90 km from Nairobi is Hell's Gate National Park, which covers an area of 68.25 km2. The park is situated 14 km after the turnoff from the old Nairobi-Naivasha highway. The National Park covers a small area, but the landscape is impressive and can be explored on foot. Hell's Gate is characterized by diverse topography and geological scenery and is famous for its natural geysers, eagle and vulture breeding grounds. Two extinct volcanoes; Olkaria and Hobley's are located here. The entrance to the gorge is marked by Fischer's Tower, a 25m tall volcanic pinnacle. Animals like Giraffe, hartebeest, zebra, Thomson's gazelle, buffalo, eland and impala can be seen grazing on the grasslands.

Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru, a small shallow alkaline lake (it varies from 5 to 30 sq km) on the edge of the town of Nakuru lies about 160 km north of Nairobi. The lake is world famous as the location of the greatest bird spectacle on earth - serving as the congregation point for a roseatte mass of some 100,000 to 2 million flamingos and over 450 other species of birds - a spectacle of immense beauty. Lake Nakuru National Park is also the first rhino sanctuary in Kenya, which has recently been enlarged partly to provide a sanctuary for black rhino. The park is unquestionably "the greatest ornithological spectacle on earth." Other wildlife to be seen in the park are waterbuck, reedbuck, zebra, impala, Gazelle, lion, leopard, buffalo, hippo, and rhino, especially in the olive tree forest to the south west.

Lake Naivasha
Situated on the floor of the great Rift Valley is Lake Naivasha, a spectacular freshwater lake some 50 miles south of Lake Nakuru. Surrounded by mountains, Lake Naivasha boasts good bass fishing, bird watching, and easy walking on Crescent Island covering 170 sq kms. This beautiful freshwater lake surrounded by rolling hills and extinct volcanoes is home to over 450 species of birds. The lake's water is used to irrigate the bountiful agriculture, part of Kenya's massive horticultural export industry. A visit to these farms, for those interested in agriculture, is well worthwhile. Strawberries, flowers, asparagus and numerous other crops are grown for domestic consumptions and export. Black bass and tilapia make for entertaining fishing and a delicious meal.

Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates:
1 00 N, 38 00 E

Area total:
582,650 sq km
land: 569,250 sq km
water: 13,400 sq km

Area - comparative slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Land boundaries
total: 3,446 km
border countries: Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km
Coastline 536 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200nm
territorial sea: 12nm

Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199m

Natural resources:
gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barites, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife, hydropower
Land use arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 37%
forests and woodland: 30%
other: 25% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 660 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: Recurring drought in northern and eastern regions; flooding during rainy seasons

Environment - Current issues water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching

Environment - International agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands and Whaling