Mount Kilimanjaro rises alone on the Tanzanian plateau - Africa's highest peak at 5,895 m, with a permanent snow cap despite its equatorial location. This 3D explorer shows the dormant volcano's asymmetrical cone, the arid scrubland at its base, and the snow-clad summit.
Published figures: height about 5,895 m - the world's highest independent mountain; base diameter about 60 km; permanent snow and ice cap despite equatorial latitude; last erupted about 360 years ago; ice coverage has shrunk about 85% since 1912 due to climate change.
Drag to orbit and scroll or pinch to zoom. Everything renders on your device with WebGL.
Mount Kilimanjaro 3D Explorer
This browser explorer shows Mount Kilimanjaro's distinctive cone rising from the Tanzanian scrubland to 5,895 metres - the highest mountain in Africa, standing completely independent with no surrounding range. The dormant volcano retains a permanent snow cap despite its equatorial location, though the ice has retreated dramatically since 1912.
Kilimanjaro's height makes it Africa's highest peak and the world's highest free-standing mountain - it rises entirely above the surrounding plateau with no connection to a mountain range. The summit, Uhuru Peak, sits at 5,895 m and carries permanent ice and snow. The asymmetrical cone, steeper on the south flank and gentler on the north, rises from arid scrubland at roughly sea-level equivalent elevation.
- Toggle the snow cap to see the permanent ice coverage of the summit region above about 4,000 m
- Toggle altitude bands to see colour-coded elevation zones: brown scrubland base, green mid-slopes, grey high-altitude, white perpetual snow
- Read height, eruption history, ice-loss figures, and climbing statistics in the info panel
- Drag to orbit, scroll or pinch to zoom
- Runs fully in the browser with the vendored three.js engine - no account, no upload
| Figure | Published value |
|---|---|
| Height | about 5,895 m - the world's highest free-standing mountain, not part of a range |
| Base diameter | about 60 km at the plateau elevation |
| Permanent ice cap | present despite equatorial latitude - about 2 sq km remaining (1912 baseline: about 11.7 sq km, so roughly 85% loss) |
| Last eruption | about 360 years ago - now dormant, not active |
| Summit | Uhuru Peak, 5,895 m, typically snow-covered year-round |
| Annual climbers | about 50,000 people attempt the ascent each year; about 65-70% reach the summit |
For other mountains, explore the Mount Everest 3D Explorer at the Earth's highest altitude, or Mount Fuji 3D Explorer for a symmetrical volcanic cone.
Everything renders on your device with WebGL. The 3D engine loads once (about 0.7 MB) and is cached.
This is an educational approximation - the cone profile, slope angles, and vertical exaggeration are schematic teaching cues, not survey data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mount Kilimanjaro an active volcano?
Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano, not active. It last erupted about 360 years ago. The mountain is considered geologically young and could potentially erupt again in the future, but there is no current volcanic activity.
Why does Kilimanjaro have snow if it's on the equator?
Mount Kilimanjaro has permanent snow and ice above about 4,000 m because temperature decreases with altitude - roughly 6.5 degrees Celsius per 1,000 m. Even though the mountain sits near the equator, the summit at 5,895 m reaches elevations where temperatures stay below freezing year-round. However, climate change has reduced the ice coverage by about 85% since 1912.
How many people climb Mount Kilimanjaro each year?
About 50,000 people attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro annually. Of these, roughly 65-70% reach the summit. The most popular route is the Marangu Route (about 5-6 days), though several other routes exist. Most climbers are not mountaineers but instead tourists seeking a high-altitude experience.
What is the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro?
The highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro is Uhuru Peak, at 5,895 metres. Uhuru means "freedom" in Swahili. It is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world - meaning it is not part of a mountain range but rises independently from the surrounding plateau.
How much of Kilimanjaro's ice has melted?
Mount Kilimanjaro's ice coverage has declined dramatically over the past century. In 1912, the ice cap covered about 11.7 square kilometres. Today, it covers only about 2 square kilometres - a loss of roughly 85%. Scientists attribute this retreat primarily to climate change and the warming of the East African region.