| Mount Meru | |
|---|---|
Mount Meru, October 2002 |
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| Elevation | 4,565 m (14,977 ft) [1] |
| Prominence | 3,170 m (10,400 ft) [1] |
| Listing | Ultra |
| Location | |
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Mount Meru
|
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| Location | Arusha Region Tanzania |
| Coordinates | [1] |
| Geology | |
| Type | Stratovolcano |
| Last eruption | 1910[2] |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1904 by Fritz Jäger[3] |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Mount Meru is an active stratovolcano located 70 kilometres (43 mi) west of Mount Kilimanjaro in the nation of Tanzania. At a height of 4,565 metres (14,977 ft), it is visible from Mt Kilimanjaro on a clear day,[4] and is the tenth highest mountain in Africa. Much of its bulk was lost about 8,000 years ago due to an eastward volcanic blast, similar to the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in the U.S. state of Washington. Mount Meru most recently had a minor eruption in 1910.[2] The several small cones and craters seen in the vicinity probably reflect numerous episodes of volcanic activity.
Mount Meru is the topographic centerpiece of Arusha National Park. Its fertile slopes rise above the surrounding savanna and support a forest that hosts diverse wildlife, including nearly 400 species of birds, and also monkeys and leopards.
At the summit, one can find a two metre high flag of Tanzania in a metal and concrete milestone reading "Socialist Peak 4562.13M" written.