Kenya sits on the equator, yet a few of its highest peaks still carry snow.

The longer version

Snow survives where the air stays cold enough for accumulation to exceed melting. Near the equator, that requires great height, since temperature drops steadily as elevation increases. Peaks reaching several thousand metres sit far above the warm lowlands around them, where farming and grazing dominate.

Glaciers on such mountains are small and sensitive to change, shrinking as regional conditions warm. Snow also reflects sunlight, which helps preserve it. The contrast between tropical heat below and ice above makes these mountains unusual, and their slopes support distinct vegetation bands from forest at the base to bare rock near the top.

Where this entry sits

These facts wander across maps, borders, deserts, rivers, mountains, and the extreme corners of the natural world. Each one is short and self-contained, offering a small surprise about places you may never visit rather than anything you actually need. The full list sits on the Geography page, where every entry is listed in order.