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Tanzania closes two climbing routes on Mount Kilimanjaro
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  • DAR ES SALAAM, April 17 (AFP) Apr 17, 2006
    Tanzania's main wildlife authority on Monday said it will close routes leading to a point known as Arrow Glacier on Mount Kilimanjaro where three US climbers died in a rockfall in January.

    "We sent our experts to study the routes and the area. They recommended we close the routes because of the possibility of a repeat of similar accidents," Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) chief Gerald Bigurube said.

    TANAPA officials said it means that two of the five routes to the top of Africa's snow-capped highest mountain will be closed.

    The climbers were hit by falling rocks and boulders that were dislodged by a strong wind as they hiked above Arrow Glacier on the western side of Kilimanjaro, at a height of about 4,877 meters (16,000 feet).

    About 15,000 people climb Kilimanjaro every year and about half of them reach the summit.

    Scientists have long warned that global warming is causing its snow and glaciers to melt, making scaling the mountain more dangerous.




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