Kenya
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Geography
Kenya is a country in East Africa which is crossed by the equator. It borders the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, Sudan to the northwest, Ethiopia to the north, and Somalia to the northeast.
The country is divided into four major regions. The Rift Valley, which is mountainous and fertile, is the most densely populated region and has the most developed economy. The Northeast is the territory of nomadic peoples and their livestock. The West is a vast agricultural region, specialised in tea and wheat. The Coast stretches over 480 km along the Indian Ocean and is mainly dedicated to the farming of coconut, fruits, dairy and cotton.
Politically, the country is divided into eight provinces, each governed by a commissioner appointed by the President. These provinces are divided into 69 districts. Nairobi, the capital city, is within a single province.
Kenya enjoys a tropical climate, with hot and humid temperatures on the coast, dry in the North, and slightly cooler in the highlands. There are two rainy seasons, between the months of April and May, and between the months of October and November.
Within the landscapes of Kenya can be found all the variety of the African sceneries: vast plains, acacia scattered savannahs, long rivers, deserts highlighted by fancy rock formations, jade coloured lakes, eternal snow mountain tops, tropical beaches and coral reefs.
The entire territory of Kenya is inhabited by an extraordinary wildlife, which has earned its international reputation for tourism. In this fauna, we find the Big Five mythical animals which are the lion, the elephant, the rhino, the leopard and the buffalo. The fauna also includes all kinds of gazelles, zebras, giraffes, primates and birds.
Hunting of the Big Five was once the ultimate goal of each safari because of the danger associated to the chase, and the quality of the trophy obtained. Hunting is now banned in Kenya because of the risk of extinction of some species such as the rhino, but photographing these animals can now be the most beautiful achievement.
Environmental issues in Kenya include drought in the northeast, floods during the rainy seasons, pollution, deforestation, erosion and poaching of animals. Several international agreements were signed, including the ban of nuclear testing.
See Also
References
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (www.wikipedia.org).
BBC News - Country Profile: Kenya (news.bbc.co.uk).
Kenya facts on National Geographic (www3.nationalgeographic.com).
World Flag Database (www.flags.net).
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All photographs have been taken by Dr Anto Youssef. For specific informations concerning any picture, please write by email (a new window will open). |