Geography of Kenya

Chalbi Desert

This is a desert in northern Kenya. It is situated east of Lake Turkana.

Kenyan Highlands

This is a highlands area in western Kenya. It is between Lake Turkana and Lake Victoria.

Lake Turkana

This is a lake in northwestern Kenya. It is the northernmost of the African Great Lakes, and it is the world's largest permanent desert lake. There is an island in this lake that is an active volcano.

Great Rift Valley

This is a long valley in Eastern Africa that was created by the spreading of tectonic plates under the surface of the Earth. It is home to the large lakes of Africa, and also some of the continent's highest points. It covers the western half of Kenya.

Serengeti Plains

This is a plains region in southeastern Kenya that extends into Tanzania. It is home to the largest terrestrial mammal migration in the world, and is a very popular tourist destination. It is also renowned for its lions and other wildlife. The Kenyan portion of these plains are called the Maasai Mara.

Indian Ocean

This is an ocean that makes up the entire coast of Kenya. It lies between Africa and Southeast Asia.

Nairobi

This is the capital and largest city in Kenya, located in the southern central part of the country. It is situated on the Athi River, and its name translates from Maasai to "Place of Cold Water". There is a national park on the outskirts of this city.

Kenyan shilling

This is the currency of Kenya.

Mount Kenya

This is the highest mountain in Kenya, at 17,057 feet. This volcano is located in the center of the country, and was covered by an ice cap for thousands of years. This has resulted in very eroded slopes, unlike other volcanoes.

Lake Victoria

This is the largest lake in Africa and the second largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. It is located on Kenya's border with Tanzania and Uganda, and is drained solely by the Nile River.

Tana River

This is the longest river in Kenya. It flows from its source in the central part of the country around Mount Kenya to the Indian Ocean. Much of Kenya's electrical power is supplied by dams on this river.