Margherita Peak, Mountain summit in Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Margherita Peak is the highest point of the Rwenzori Mountains, sitting on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and is Africa's third-highest summit. It rises to about 5,109 meters (16,763 feet) and is surrounded by glacial zones, moorland, and montane forest.
In 1906, the Duke of Abruzzi led an Italian expedition that reached the summit for the first time. Their ascent drew international attention to the Rwenzori range and set the route that future climbers would follow.
The summit takes its name from Queen Margherita of Italy, given in her honor during the first ascent. Climbers who reach the top find plaques and small monuments left by earlier expeditions over many decades.
Reaching the summit takes roughly six to eight days of trekking through several distinct climate zones, from forest to glacial terrain. A local guide is required for the entire journey, and the final sections call for basic rock and ice climbing skills.
The summit holds one of the last remaining glaciers in Africa, and it has visibly retreated over recent decades. Scientists monitor it regularly because its changes are seen as a sign of broader climate shifts across the continent.
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