Kerio Valley
Kerio Valley | |
---|---|
Floor elevation | 1,000 m (3,300 ft) |
Length | 80 kilometres (50 mi) North - South |
Width | 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) |
Geology | |
Type | Rift valley |
Age | Miocene, 22–25 million years ago |
Geography | |
Population centers | Kimwarer,Chepsigot,Tot |
Coordinates | 0°38′24″N 35°36′31″E / 0.6401°N 35.6086°E |
Kerio Valley lies between the Tugen Hills and the Elgeyo Escarpment in Kenya. It sits at an elevation of 1,000 meters in the Great Rift Valley.[1]
Geography
The isolated Kerio Valley is situated in a narrow, long strip that is approximately 80 km by 10 km wide at its broadest, through which the
The Elgeyo Escarpment rises more than 1,830 metres (6,000 ft) above it in places.[3] It has semi-tropical vegetation on the slopes, while the floor of the valley is covered by dry thorn bushes.[4] The most comfortable time of the year is in July and August when the rains have ended and the temperatures are not excessive.[5]
The Kerio Valley National Reserve has been established since 1983 along the Kerio River to the north of Lake Kamnarok.[4]
Archaeological Activities
The Kerio Valley is the site of elaborate irrigation systems that were constructed during earlier periods of history. These structures are believed to have been built by descendants of the
People
In Kimwarer in the southern part of the valley, fluoride is mined by the Kenya Fluorspar Company. The southern parts of the valley are settled by the Elgeyo people and the northern part by the Marakwet people. Tugen people live on the slopes of the Tugen Hills. These three groups together with the Nandi and the Kipsigis belong to the Kalenjin people.[1]
Further reading
- Massam, J. A. (1968). The Cliff Dwellers of Kenya. Routledge. ISBN 0-7146-1697-4.
- Chebet, Susan; Dietz, Ton (2000). Climbing the cliff: a history of the Keiyo. Moi University Press. ISBN 9966-854-15-0.
Notes
- ^ a b Muchem, Mwangi & Greijn 2002.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Parkinson & Ray 2006, p. 410.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Parkinson & Ray 2006, p. 430.
- ^ a b Kerio Valley - Kenya Wildlife.
- ^ Hodd 2002, p. 164.
- ^ ISBN 978-0143106241.
- ISBN 0415252482.
References
- Hodd, Michael (2002). Footprint East Africa Handbook: The Travel Guide. Footprint Travel Guides. ISBN 1-900949-65-2.
- Fitzpatrick, Mary; Parkinson, Tom; Ray, Nick (2006). East África. Lonely Planet. ISBN 1-74104-286-0.
- "Kerio Valley National Reserve". Kenya Wildlife Services. Archived from the original on 2011-11-28. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
- Muchem, Julius; Mwangi, Wangu; Greijn, Heinz (2002). "GIS in support of participatory land use planning in the Districts Keiyo & Marakwet, Kenya". www.gisdevelopment.net. Retrieved 2008-03-16.