# Aberdare Range

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{{short description|Mountain range in Kenya}}
{{About|the mountains in Kenya|the place in Wales|Aberdare}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox mountain
 | fetchwikidata     = ALL
 | name              = Aberdare Range
 | highest           = [Mount Satima](/source/Mount_Satima)
 | country           = [Kenya](/source/Kenya)
 | map               = Kenya 
 | map_caption       = Location in Kenya  
 | coordinates       = {{coord|0.62765|S|36.70832|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
 | topo_map              = 
 | type              = 
 | age               = 
 | first_ascent      = 
 | easiest_route     = 
}}
The '''Aberdare Range''' (formerly the '''Sattima Range''', [Kikuyu](/source/Gikuyu_language): ''Nyandarua'') is a {{convert|160|km|mi|abbr=on}} long [mountain range](/source/mountain_range) of [upland](/source/Upland_(geology)), north of [Kenya](/source/Kenya)'s capital [Nairobi](/source/Nairobi) with an average elevation of {{convert|3500|m|ft|-1}}. It straddles the counties of [Nyandarua](/source/Nyandarua_County), [Nyeri](/source/Nyeri_County), [Murang'a](/source/Murang'a), [Kiambu](/source/Kiambu_County) and [Laikipia](/source/Laikipia_County). The mountain range is in west central [Kenya](/source/Kenya), northeast of [Naivasha](/source/Naivasha) and [Gilgil](/source/Gilgil) and lies just south of the [Equator](/source/Equator). The mountain range is called Nyandarua among the [Agikuyu people](/source/Kikuyu_people) in whose territory this forest and mountain range is located. The name ''Nyandarua'' comes from the Kikuyu word ''rwandarua'' meaning a drying hide, due to the distinctive fold of its silhouette.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roughguides.com/destinations/africa/kenya/central-highlands/aberdare-national-park/history-aberdare-range/|title=History of the Aberdare Range|website=Rough Guides|language=en-US|access-date=14 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gloriakendiborona.wordpress.com/tag/nyandarua-ranges/|title=Nyandarua ranges – Kendi Borona|language=en|access-date=14 February 2019}}</ref>

==Topography==
The Aberdare Range forms a section of the eastern rim of the [Great Rift Valley](/source/Great_Rift_Valley%2C_Kenya) running roughly north to south.<ref name=Brittanica/>
On the west, the range falls off steeply into the [Kinangop Plateau](/source/Kinangop_Plateau) and then into the Great Rift Valley. On the east, the range slopes more gently. [Lake Naivasha](/source/Lake_Naivasha) and the distant [Mau Escarpment](/source/Mau_Escarpment) can be seen from peaks in the range.<ref name=bootsnall/>

The range has a maximum elevation of {{convert|3999|m}}<ref name=EB>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Dale H. |editor-last=Hoiberg |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |title=Abedare Range |edition=15th |year=2010 |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. |volume=I: A-ak Bayes |location=Chicago, Illinois |isbn=978-1-59339-837-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newencyclopaedia2009ency/page/27 27] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/newencyclopaedia2009ency/page/27 }}</ref> and is heavily forested. 
The former name of the range survives in [Mount Satima](/source/Mount_Satima) ("the mountain of the young bull"), the highest peak in the Aberdare Range.
The second-highest peak, at the southern end of the range, is [Mount Kinangop](/source/Mount_Kinangop) at {{convert|3906|m|ft}}.  
[Mount Kenya](/source/Mount_Kenya) at {{convert|5199|m|ft}}<ref name=EB/> is the second highest mountain in [Africa](/source/Africa) after [Kilimanjaro](/source/Kilimanjaro) and lies east of the Aberdare Range.

The Aberdares are the water catchment area for the [Sasumua dam](/source/Sasumua_dam) and the [Ndakaini dam](/source/Ndakaini_dam), which provide most of the water for Nairobi. The mountain forests are catchment areas for the [Tana River](/source/Tana_River_(Kenya)), the largest river in Kenya, supplying water to the Seven Forks hydroelectric power complex which generates over 55 percent of Kenya's total electricity output.<ref name=unep>{{cite web|url=http://www.unep.org/expeditions/Expeditions/EA_Montane_Forests/Aberdares.asp|title=Environmental Expeditions|publisher=unep.org|access-date=17 March 2008|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20080318043758/http://www.unep.org/expeditions/Expeditions/EA_Montane_Forests/Aberdares.asp|archive-date=18 March 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Ecology==
The main [ecosystem](/source/ecosystem)s within the mountain range are [rainforest](/source/rainforest)s giving way to dense [bamboo](/source/bamboo) forests and then [moorland](/source/moorland).
The steep western edges of the hillside are sparsely inhabited by wildlife compared to the forested gentle slopes to the east, which are home to a wide variety of wildlife. There are multitudes of [elephant](/source/elephant)s, [buffalos](/source/African_Buffalo), [giant forest hog](/source/giant_forest_hog)s, [hyena](/source/hyena)s as well as the endangered [black rhino](/source/black_rhino)s and [bongos](/source/bongo_(antelope)). A variety of cats including [leopards](/source/leopards), [servals](/source/servals), [civet](/source/civet), [genet](/source/genet_(animal)) and the rare [African golden cat](/source/African_golden_cat). Other threatened species including the [Jackson mongoose](/source/Jackson_mongoose), the [black and white colobus monkey](/source/black-and-white_colobus) and [Sykes' monkey](/source/Sykes'_monkey) are plentiful, as are [waterbuck](/source/waterbuck), [reedbuck](/source/reedbuck), [duiker](/source/duiker)s, and [bushbuck](/source/Cape_bushbuck).<ref name=bootsnall/> The Aberdare Range is also home to the [endemic](/source/Endemism) [Aberdare cisticola](/source/Aberdare_cisticola).

The Aberdares contain a rich diversity of vegetation. There are 778 vegetation and plant species, subspecies and varieties found in the [Aberdare National Park](/source/Aberdare_National_Park), due to the park's altitude and rainfall.  [Hardwood](/source/Hardwood) trees include camphor, [cedar](/source/Juniperus_procera), [podo](/source/Podocarpus_latifolius) and [hagenia](/source/hagenia).<ref name=unep/>

Much of the range has been protected within the [Aberdare National Park](/source/Aberdare_National_Park) since its creation in 1950. The range attracts large numbers of hikers and climbers operating out of the main centers of [Naivasha](/source/Naivasha) and [Gilgil](/source/Gilgil%2C_Kenya). The lower slopes are farmed, higher areas are known for their [wildlife](/source/wildlife). The [Rhino Charge](/source/Rhino_Charge) is an annual event run by conservationists in [Kenya](/source/Kenya) to pay for fencing of the Aberdare National Park as a means of protecting East Africa's largest indigenous forest from destruction.

==Aberdare Range Forest==
Aberdare Ranges Forest are the host for the Aberdare Forest Reserve, which along with the Kikuyu Escarpments runs {{cvt|120|km}} northwards from Nairobi and about {{cvt|40|km}} at its widest point. With a perimeter of {{cvt|566|km}}, the Aberdare Range varies in altitude from {{convert|2000|m}} on the forest boundary on the eastside and {{convert|4,001|m}} towards the northern edge at the peak of [Oldonyo Lesatima](/source/Mount_Satima).<ref name=unep /> The Range descend gradually from the peak towards [Nyahururu](/source/Nyahururu) from the northern side, where incised river valleys and volcanic vents are evident. On the southern side, the range is steep southwards from IL [Kinangop](/source/Kinangop) peak towards the northern part of Murang’a North District.<ref name=env_vision_2030/>

==Rivers==
The major rivers from the Aberdare Forest are the [Athi](/source/Athi-Galana-Sabaki_River) and the [Tana](/source/Tana_River_(Kenya)), which flow into the [Indian Ocean](/source/Indian_Ocean), the [Ewaso Nyiro](/source/Ewaso_Nyiro) that drains into the [Lorian Swamp](/source/Lorian_Swamp) and the River Malewa that drains into [Lake Naivasha](/source/Lake_Naivasha). The Aberdares also have several tributaries, and higher up are bog markings that are the source of the rivers on the moorlands and afro-alpine. The Athi, Lake Naivasha, Tana and Ewaso Nyiro river basins have their source in the Aberdare Forest Reserve.

==Ecosystems==
The mountains have four vegetation zones, including subalpine vegetation, xeromorphic evergreen forest, montane humid forest, and submontane forest. Plants endemic to the range include ''[Alchemilla hagenia](/source/Alchemilla_hagenia), [Coelachne friesiorum](/source/Coelachne_friesiorum), [Dendrosenecio brassiciformis](/source/Dendrosenecio_brassiciformis), [Helichrysum gloria-dei](/source/Helichrysum_gloria-dei)'', and ''[Heracleum taylorii](/source/Heracleum_taylorii)''.

===Sub alpine vegetation===
Found at elevations above {{convert|3,300|m|ft|abbr=off}} is the moorlands. Alpine grass (''[Deschampsia](/source/Deschampsia)''), distinguished by giant groundsell (''[Dendrosenecio johnstonii](/source/Dendrosenecio_johnstonii)''), ''[Lobelia deckenii](/source/Lobelia_deckenii)'', and heath (''[Erica mannii](/source/Erica_mannii)''). Moorland communities are the main vegetation in this region. Shrub communities consisting of ''[Erica arborea](/source/Erica_arborea)'' and ''[Hebenstretia angolensis](/source/Hebenstretia_angolensis)'' are found between {{convert|3,000|and|3,300|m|ft}}, while a belt of bamboo is common between {{convert|2,400|and|3,300|m|ft|abbr=on}}, and cover about 35,000&nbsp;ha (135 square miles).

===Montane humid forest===
This belt is mostly dominated by [pioneer species](/source/pioneer_species) ''[Macaranga capensis](/source/Macaranga_capensis)'' and ''[Neoboutonia macrocalyx](/source/Neoboutonia_macrocalyx)'' and runs to the east side of the range. The region is also host to the valuable commercial species including ''[Aningeria adolfi-friederici](/source/Aningeria_adolfi-friederici)'', ''[Kuloa usambarensis](/source/Kuloa_usambarensis)'', and ''[Syzygium guineense](/source/Syzygium_guineense)'', which are the most conspicuous forest in the Kikuyu escarpment.

===Xeromorphic evergreen forest===
Located on the dry northern and western slopes of Aberdares, it has several species with the most notable being the olives (''[Olea europaea](/source/Olea_europaea)'', ''[Olea capensis](/source/Olea_capensis)'', ''[Olea hochstetteri](/source/Olea_hochstetteri)''), podo (''[Podocarpus milanjianus](/source/Podocarpus_milanjianus)''), and cedar (''[Juniperus procera](/source/Juniperus_procera)'').

===Sub-montane forest===
This forms the seasonal forest cover on the north-east slopes with predominantly ''[Ekebergia capensis](/source/Ekebergia_capensis)'', ''[Nuxia congesta](/source/Nuxia_congesta)'', ''[Cassipourea malosana](/source/Cassipourea_malosana)'', and ''[Calodendrum capense](/source/Calodendrum_capense)'' (Cape chestnut) species.

==Events==
The Aberdare Range was named by [Joseph Thomson](/source/Joseph_Thomson_(explorer)) in 1884 in honour of [Lord Aberdare](/source/Henry_Bruce%2C_1st_Baron_Aberdare), who at the time was president of the [Royal Geographical Society](/source/Royal_Geographical_Society) and the [Royal Historical Society](/source/Royal_Historical_Society).<ref>Peter Robson, ''Mountains of Kenya'' (East African Publishing House, 1969), p. 41</ref> Aberdare was also a [Liberal](/source/Liberal_Party_(UK)) politician who had served as [Home Secretary](/source/Home_Secretary) from 1868 to 1873. He was later to become the first chancellor of the [University of Wales](/source/University_of_Wales).<ref>'Aberdare, Henry Austin Bruce, 1st Baron (1815–95)', in [Magnus Magnusson](/source/Magnus_Magnusson) and Rosemary Goring, eds., ''[Chambers Biographical Dictionary](/source/Chambers_Biographical_Dictionary)'' (5th edition, 1990), p. 5</ref>

The area is well known as the headquarters of [Dedan Kimathi](/source/Dedan_Kimathi), leader of the 1950s [Mau Mau Uprising](/source/Mau_Mau_Uprising).<ref>{{cite magazine
 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,818044,00.html 
 |title=A Report from Kenya
 |magazine=[Time](/source/Time_(magazine))
 |last=Campbell 
 |first=Alexander 
 |date=30 March 1953 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208164825/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C818044%2C00.html 
 |archive-date=8 February 2008 
 |url-status=dead
}}</ref> [Elizabeth II](/source/Elizabeth_II) became Queen of the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom) while staying at [Treetops Hotel](/source/Treetops_Hotel) in the Aberdares.<ref name=bootsnall>
{{cite web|url=http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/00-06/the-aberdare-mountain-ranges-nyandarua-range.html
|title=The Aberdare Mountain Ranges (Nyandarua Range), Africa
|publisher=bootsnall.com
|access-date=17 March 2008
|last=Rees
|first=Melinda
}}
</ref>

It was also the site where [J.A. Hunter](/source/J.A._Hunter) killed the [rogue elephant of Aberdare Forest](/source/rogue_elephant_of_Aberdare_Forest).<ref>''The Rogue Elephant of Aberdare Forest'', From ''Hunter'', J.A. Hunter, HarperCollins, 1952</ref>

==Footnotes==
<references>
<ref name=Brittanica>
  {{cite web | url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9003327/Aberdare-Range
   | title=Aberdare Range | publisher = Britannica Online Encyclopedia|website=www.britannica.com
   | access-date=17 March 2008}}</ref>
<ref name=env_vision_2030>{{cite web
  | url = https://na.unep.net/atlas/datlas/sites/default/files/.../Kenya_Screen_Chapter1.pdf
  | title = Chapter 1: Environment and Vision 2030
  | access-date = 4 April 2013
  }}{{Dead link|date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
</references>

==External links==
* [http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/00-06/the-aberdare-mountain-ranges-nyandarua-range.html The Aberdare Mountain Ranges (Nyandarua Range)]

{{Great Rift Valley, Kenya}}

Category:Mountain ranges of Kenya
Category:Great Rift Valley
Category:Nyandarua County
Category:East African montane forests

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Aberdare Range](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdare_Range) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdare_Range?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.