Ruwenzori Range

Ruwenzori Range, east-central African mountain range between Uganda and Zaïre. These mountains, slightly north of the equator, rise to a snowy height of 16,763 ft (5,109 m) at Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley. The range was given its present name by the European explorer Henry Stanley (1889). In ancient times it was named Mountains of the Moon by the geographer Ptolemy. These non-volcanic mountains consist of glaciated masses of crystalline rock. The range has deep chasms and deeply carved river valleys. The rainfall and snow melt from these mountains are considered a source of the Nile River.