Mount Kenya National Park is a protected area in Kenya. It was created in 1949 near Mount Kenya to help keep the environment and animals safe. The park also helps collect and carry water for the region's water supply.

History

At first, the area was a forest reserve. Later, it was declared a national park. Now, the national park is surrounded by the forest reserve. In April 1978, the area was named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. In 1997, the national park and forest reserve together became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Government of Kenya created the national park for four reasons. These included helping the local and national economies through tourism, protecting a beautiful natural area, preserving the variety of plants and animals in the park, and protecting the water sources that supply the surrounding area.

Area

Mount Kenya National Park covers an area of 715 km (276 sq mi), with most of this land located above the 3,000 m (9,800 ft) elevation line. The forest reserve nearby spans 705 km (272 sq mi). Together, these areas form the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which totals 1,420 km (550 sq mi).

The soil in the surrounding region contains volcanic material, and a large amount of fresh water flows down the slopes. These conditions make the area very suitable for farming.

Fauna

Some parts of the park's edges near areas with many people have electric fences to keep elephants away from nearby farmland. At lower areas, black-and-white colobus monkeys and other monkeys, as well as Cape buffaloes, are often found. In 1993, a large male lion weighing 272 kilograms (600 pounds) was shot near the mountain.