Sometimes called the Mountains of the Moon. The Rwenzori is really one giant mountain with several peaks. Since it is not formed through the usual process of tectonic folding, it is not really like other mountain "ranges." It appears to have been pushed up in the middle of the Western Rift Valley. Lots of bits of the earth get pushed up like this, but the Rwenzori may be the biggest such event contributing to the current landscape of the earth.
The Rwenzori is usually shrouded in cloud, and many people have spent many years in this area without seeing them. This photograph is therefore very rare.
Physical Science
Comments
Ah. thanks for explaining the Rwenzoris (or at least stating what makes them special). Could the push-up be due to the relative movements of the plates at the Rift, and an associated whirl of rock in the lower crust, creating effects reminiscent of a hotspot? (Of course, I'm just riffing here, but it's fun.)
Posted by: Ben Breuer | December 5, 2008 12:03 PM
It is almost certainly something like that.
Posted by: Greg Laden | December 5, 2008 12:14 PM