Nguruman Escarpment
Encyclopedia
Nguruman Escarpment is an escarpment
in southern Kenya
. The escarpment is around 50 kilometres long and elongated in N-W direction. Its northern edge approximately 120 km southwest of Nairobi
, while the southern edge is near the Tanzania
n border, at the northwestern corner of Lake Natron
. The southern Ewaso Ng'iro
river flows along the foot of the escarpment, while Loita Hills are located west of the escarpment . The escarpment forms the western wall of the Great Rift Valley
. Below it are the vast plains and the volcanic hills of the Great Rift Valley
and in the distance are Lake Magadi
and Lake Natron.
The valley floor is about 900m above sea level, while the levation of the crest of the escarpment is about 2300m .
The Shompole Conservancy is located along Nguruman Escarpment .
Escarpment
An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...
in southern Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. The escarpment is around 50 kilometres long and elongated in N-W direction. Its northern edge approximately 120 km southwest of Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, while the southern edge is near the Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
n border, at the northwestern corner of Lake Natron
Lake Natron
Lake Natron is a salt lake located in northern Tanzania, close to the Kenyan border, in the eastern branch of Africa's Great Rift Valley. The lake is fed by the Ewaso Ng'iro River but also by mineral-rich hot springs and is quite shallow, less than three meters deep, and varies in width depending...
. The southern Ewaso Ng'iro
Ewaso Ng'iro
Ewaso Ng'iro is a river in Kenya which rises on the west side of Mount Kenya and flows north then east and finally south-east, passing through Somalia where it joins the Jubba River....
river flows along the foot of the escarpment, while Loita Hills are located west of the escarpment . The escarpment forms the western wall of the Great Rift Valley
Great Rift Valley
The Great Rift Valley is a name given in the late 19th century by British explorer John Walter Gregory to the continuous geographic trench, approximately in length, that runs from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in South East Africa...
. Below it are the vast plains and the volcanic hills of the Great Rift Valley
Great Rift Valley
The Great Rift Valley is a name given in the late 19th century by British explorer John Walter Gregory to the continuous geographic trench, approximately in length, that runs from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in South East Africa...
and in the distance are Lake Magadi
Lake Magadi
Lake Magadi is the southernmost lake in the Kenya Rift Valley, lying in a catchment of faulted volcanic rocks, north of Tanzania's Lake Natron. During the dry season, it is 80% covered by soda and is well known for its wading birds, including flamingos....
and Lake Natron.
The valley floor is about 900m above sea level, while the levation of the crest of the escarpment is about 2300m .
The Shompole Conservancy is located along Nguruman Escarpment .