Fun Facts About Kenya (Part 3)

20th July, 2010 - Posted by Dave Redelfs -

DID YOU KNOW - that the land mass of Kenya is only 6% of that of the United States? At 224,080 sq.-mi. it’s smaller than Texas (268,581 sq.-mi.) and larger than California (163,696  sq.-mi.).

DID YOU KNOW - that Kenya straddles the Equator almost exactly, with 5 degrees of latitude lying north and 4.40 degrees lying south of the equator? By comparison, Oregon, where Open Arms US is headquartered, straddles the 45th north parallel. We are half-way to the North Pole from where Kenya is.

DID YOU KNOW - that from Tanzania in the south to Somalia in the north,  Kenya’s coastline is about 298 miles (480 km) as the crow flies? It’s coastal length is almost the same as Oregon’s 296 miles of ocean frontage.

DID YOU KNOW - that the highest point in Kenya is Mt. Kenya at 17,058 feet (5,199 meters)? That puts it between the highest peak in the US, Alaska’s Mt. McKinley at 20,320 feet (6194 meters) , and the highest point in the lower 48, California’s Mt. Whitney, at 14,495 feet (4418 meters). Mt. Kenya has 12 glaciers beneath the twin rocks of Batian and Nelion. And, despite its equatorial location the snowline at Mt. Kenya is perennial above 15,000 feet.

DID YOU KNOW - that the lowest point in Kenya is length of the Kenya coast on the Indian Ocean? At 0 ft. (0 meters) i.e.sea level, its elevation is over three miles below Mt. Kenya.

DID YOU KNOW - that Open Arms Village sits on 52 acres along the Kipkaren River in in the beautiful Rift Valley near Eldoret, Kenya?  It’s home to 42 children, houseparents, associate houseparents, visiting teams and friends, a school, Open Arms Academy, along with numerous cows, goats, sheep, rabbits and chickens.