Hell's Gate National Park
IUCN Category II - National Park
Landscape in Hell's Gate NP
The Hell's Gate National Park is a Kenyan National Park in the south of Lake Naivasha, northwest of Nairobi. The 68 sq km park lies in the comprehensive African Great grave breach at an altitude of about 1500 m above sea level. The park is known for its scenic beauty. Worth seeing especially the Hell's Gate or Njorowa Gorge, two extinct volcanoes and two volcanic columns called Fischer 's Tower and Central Tower. On the extinct volcano Ol Karia are three geothermal power plants in operation. The fauna is rich in species and has both steppe and rock dwellers, significant are the eagles and vultures rock.
History
The Hell's Gate National Park ( German " Gates of Hell " ) is named after a narrow passage in the cliffs. This leads to a " hell -like -like landscape " or in a deep canyon in lava bubbling in the hot springs. In the gorge was once the bed of a prehistoric lake, on whose shores may early humans in the Rift Valley lived. His name " Hell's Gate" was the area in 1883 by the discoverers Gustav Adolf Fischer and Joseph Thomson. Beginning of the 20th century broke the southeast volcano Mount Longonot located off; the ash is found to Hell's Gate today. The geothermal power plant Olkaria, the first of its kind in Africa, was opened in 1981 and produces geothermal energy from the hot springs and geysers in the area. The National Park itself was established in 1984. This was a request in 1980 murdered " lioness " Joy Adamson and carried out with the financial support of her Elsa Conservation Trust.
Geography
Hell's Gate National Park covers an area of 68.25 square kilometers, making it an African standards, quite small national park. The park is located within the district Nakuru, near the lake Naivasha and about 90 km from Nairobi. The park is situated 14 km after the turn of the old highway Nairobi - Naivasha. The climate is warm and dry. Ol Karia and Hobley 's, two extinct volcanoes and obsidian formations from the cooled lava can be seen in the park. In the Hell's Gate gorge, surrounded by red cliffs, volcanic have two columns, Fischer 's Tower and Central Tower, is formed. From the Central Tower, a smaller gorge in a southerly direction; from this, a path leads to some hot springs.
Wildlife
The park offers many different animals habitat, although many species are represented by only a few individuals. Are widespread African buffalo, zebra, eland, hartebeest, Thomson's gazelle and baboons, also mountain reedbuck, Klipspringer and bush hyraxes live in the park. Quite often, lions, leopards and cheetahs can be observed even servals are located here. In The Park 103 bird species have been recorded, such as the bearded vulture, hawk vulture, vulture cap, Black Eagle and Buzzard Rock.
Tourism
The park is popular for its proximity to Nairobi and its low compared to other National Parks entrance fees. Hell's Gate is one of two Kenyan national parks, where hiking, cycling and motorcycling is allowed. In the park there is a Maasai cultural center that provides information about the culture and traditions of the Maasai. There are three primitive campsites in the park. At Lake Naivasha there are several inns.
Geothermal
Olkaria I went in 1981 as the first geothermal power plant in Africa in operation, today it has a capacity of 45 MW. The newer blocks Olkaria II and III provide 105 and 12 MW. Currently, Olkaria I is expanded and Olkaria IV rebuilt. Both plants are used later to create each 140 MW of electricity, more than any other geothermal power plant in Africa. The Olkaria power plants I and II and IV include the Kenya Electricity Generating Company ( KenGen ). Olkaria III is operated by the so-called Independent Power Producers ( IPPs ).