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What landforms did earlier glaciers create on Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, and the Ruwenzori Range?

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Earlier glaciers on Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, and the Ruwenzori Range were significantly more powerful than the relict glaciers found there today. These predecessors extended to altitudes between 10,000 and 12,000 feet—and sometimes lower—creating several distinct landforms through glacial erosion and deposition:1

  • ArĂȘtes: Sharp-edged ridges formed by the intersection of glacial cirques.1
  • Cirques: Large, bowl-shaped glacial amphitheatres.1
  • Rock tarns: Lakes that occupy basins carved out by glacial action.1
  • U-shaped valleys: Characteristic valleys widened and deepened by the movement of glaciers.1
  • Moraines: Accumulations of boulders, gravel, and other debris deposited by the glaciers.1