Empakaai Crater, Impact crater in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
Description
Empakaai Crater is a large depression in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a diameter of about 6 kilometers. The floor is covered mostly by an alkaline lake that reaches about 85 meters in depth.
History
The crater formed during the Pleistocene epoch through volcanic activity, creating a caldera structure within the conservation area. Today it remains part of the protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve network.
Culture
The crater is known locally as Kasoko la Empakai in Swahili, a name reflecting the area's importance to nearby communities. The site holds spiritual significance for the Maasai people who inhabit the surrounding landscape.
Practical
Visitors must arrange guided hikes with armed rangers, which typically take about 30 minutes to descend and two hours to ascend the crater walls. It is best to start early in the day when weather conditions are more stable.
Did you know?
The western crater rim reaches about 3,200 meters elevation and provides views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Natron, and the active Oldoinyo Lengai volcano. This unusual vantage point allows visitors to see several of the region's major geographic features from a single location.
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Tanzania provides photographers with an extraordinary range of subjects, from the Serengeti plains to Zanzibar's coastline and Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa at 19,341 feet (5,895 meters). The country contains major wildlife reserves including Tarangire, where elephant herds move...
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