Geography of Kenya – The Ultimate Free Guide 2021

Learn facts and Geography of Kenya including Major Geographical Features, Natural resources, Region, area, Capital, Border countries, rivers in Kenya.

  • Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country in Eastern Africa. At 580,367 square kilometers (224,081 sq mi), Kenya is the world’s 48th largest country by area.
  • With a population of more than 47.6 million in the 2019 census.
  • Kenya is the 29th most populous country.
  • Kenya’s capital and largest city is Nairobi, while its oldest city and first capital is the coastal city of Mombasa.
  • Kisumu City is the third-largest city and also an inland port on Lake Victoria.
  • Kenya is bordered by South Sudan to the northwest, Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the east, Uganda to the west, Tanzania to the south, and the Indian Ocean to the southeast.

Geography of Kenya

Geography of Kenya
Figure: Geography of Kenya

Region:

East Africa

Area:

Ranked 48th

Capital:

Nairobi

Population:

54,985,698

Bordering Countries:

  • Kenya is bordered to the north by South Sudan and Ethiopia, to the east by Somalia and the Indian Ocean, to the south by Tanzania, and to the west by Lake Victoria and Uganda.

Total Size:

580,367 km2

Geographical Coordinates:

1°16′S 36°48′E

World Region or Continent:

Africa

General Terrain:

low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

Geographical Low Point:

Indian Ocean 0 m

Geographical High Point:

Mount Kenya 5,199 m

Climate:

  • The climate of Kenya varies by location, from mostly cool every day, to always warm/hot.
  • The climate along the coast is tropical. This means rainfall and temperatures are higher throughout the year.
  • At the coastal cities, Mombasa, Lamu and Malindi, the air changes from cool to hot, almost every day.
  • An arid climate is nearly devoid of rainfall, and temperature swings widely according to the general time of the day/night.
  • The daytime temperature rises about 12 °C (corresponding to a rise of about 22 °F), almost every day.

Major cities:

  • Baragoi
  • Bungoma
  • Busia
  • Butere
  • Dadaab
  • Diani Beach
  • Eldoret
  • Emali
  • Embu
  • Garissa
  • Gede
  • Hola
  • Homa Bay
  • Isiolo
  • Kitui
  • Kibwezi
  • Kajiado
  • Kakamega
  • Kakuma
  • Kapenguria
  • Moyale
  • Wundanyi
  • Kericho
  • Keroka
  • Kiambu
  • Kilifi
  • Kisii
  • Kisumu
  • Kitale
  • Lamu
  • Langata
  • Litein
  • Lodwar
  • Lokichoggio
  • Londiani
  • Loyangalani
  • Machakos
  • Makindu
  • Malindi
  • Mandera
  • Maralal
  • Marsabit
  • Meru
  • Mombasa
  • Mumias
  • Muranga
  • Mutomo
  • Nairobi
  • Naivasha
  • Nakuru
  • Namanga
  • Nanyuki
  • Naro Moru
  • Narok
  • Nyahururu
  • Nyeri
  • Ruiru
  • Shimoni
  • Takaungu
  • Thika
  • Vihiga
  • Voi
  • Wajir
  • Watamu
  • Webuye
  • Wote

Major Land forms:

  • Mount Kenya.
  • Great Rift Valley.
  • Chalbi Desert.
  • Lake Victoria.
  • Lake Turkana.

Major Rivers and Lakes:

Major rivers:

  1. Nile
  2. White Nile
  3. Victoria Nile (Uganda)
  4. Lake Victoria
  5. Nzoia River
  6. Yala River
  7. Nyando River
  8. Sondu River (Miriu River)
  9. Awach River
  10. Itare River
  11. Kitare River (South Awach River)
  12. Gucha River (Kuja River)
  13. Migori River
  14. Riana River
  15. Mogonga River
  16. Mara River
  17. Kajiado
  18. Kakamega
  19. Kakuma
  20. Kapenguria
  21. Moyale
  1. Suguta River
  2. Kerio River
  3. Lokichar River (Lomenyangaparat)
  4. Turkwel River
  5. Suam River
  6. Omo River
  7. Turkwel River
  8. Olarabel River (Ngusero River)
  9. Molo River
  10. Perkerra River
  11. Njoro River
  12. Gilgil River
  13. Malewa River
  14. Turasha River (Kija river)
  15. Southern Ewaso Ng’iro
  16. Seyabei River
  17. Jipe Ruvu River
  18. Wundanyi
  19. Lumi River
  20. Ruiru River
  1. Jubba River (Somalia)
  2. Lagh Dera
  3. Lak Bor
  4. Lagh Kutulo
  5. Lagh Bogal
  6. Ewaso Ng’iro
  7. Isiolo River
  8. Naro Moru river
  9. Milgis
  10. Dawa River
  11. Tana River
  12. Kathita River
  13. Mutonga River
  14. Thiba River
  15. Thika River
  16. Kiama River
  17. Ragati River
  18. Kururu River
  19. Muhuhi River
  20. Galana River
  21. Athi River
  22. Mbagathi River

Natural Resources:

Gold, limestone, soda ash, salt, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife, hydropower.

Major Geographical Features:

Biomes & Ecosystems:

  • Eastern and Coastal Freshwater.
  • Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands
  • Flooded Grasslands and Savannas

Topography:

  • Kenya has tremendous topographical diversity including glaciated mountains with snow-capped peaks the Rift Valley with its scarps and volcanoes ancient granitic hills flat desert landscapes and coral reefs and islets.

Oceans:

Indian Ocean

Islands:

  • Lamu Island
  • Manda Island
  • Funzi Island
  • Wasini Island
  • Chale Island
  • Pate Island
  • Mfangano Island
  • Migingo Island
  • Kiwayu
  • Rusinga Island
  • Mombasa Island
  • Ndere Island
  • Ksite Island

Mountain Ranges:

  • Mount Kenya
  • Mount Satima
  • Mount Kinangop
  • Mount Longonot
  • Mount Mtelo
  • Ol Doinyo Orok
  • Mount Kipipiri
  • Menengai
  • Mount Ng’iro
  • Mount Elgon
  • Mount Kulal
  • Mount Marsabit
  • Ol Doinyo Eburru

States of Kenya:

  • Abyei Area
  • Aweil State
  • Unity State
  • Jonglei State
  • Jubek State
  • Gogrial State
  • Upper Nile State
  • Imatong State
  • Lakes State
  • Tonj State
  • Imatong State
  • Wau State
  • Western Equatoria State
  • Yei River State
  • Lakes State

See Also:

World Map

References:

Naveed Tawargeri
 

Hi, I'm Naveed Tawargeri, and I'm the owner and creator of this blog. I'm a Software Developer with a passion for Programming. 

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