Exploring the Geography of Mombasa: Kenya’s piece de resistance
Most probably by the time you are reading this, Mombasa is the second largest city in Kenya only city in the entire region with such a fascinating geographic profile. Located on the Southeast of Kenya, on the Coast Province at the Indian Ocean, Mombasa enjoys White sandy beaches and clear waters, rich Marine Life and a tropical Green environment. It is not only renowned for its geography it is alsoTerms of Geographical Characteristics Geographical characteristics in Wondi are not only attract tourism but contribute immensely to its economy and culture.
Location and Layout
Mombasa is located at the coastal part of the country on Mombasa Island that is oversees the main land through several bridges and a ferry. The island itself is separated from the mainland by two creeks: Kilindini Harbor to the south and Tudor Creek to the North. They act as natural harbours in providing the much needed points of disembarkation and thus greatly making Mombasa’s position as a strategic seaport in East Africa.
The city lies near the Indian Ocean, and as a result the eastern borders of the city are embraced with wonderful sandy beaches and a warm tropical environment. The temperatures are moderate in Mombasa throughout the year with the temperatures range being 24˚C to 30˚C (75˚F to 86˚F). The city experiences two main seasons: a dry season and a rainy season, the later experienced a little earlier covering a period up to June and the other covering a period up to December.
Beaches and Coastline
Mombasa has a number of geographical characteristic but the most outstanding of them is the coast, whereby the city lies along the Indian Ocean coast with an estimated size of about 480 kilometers. This coastline is characterised by a string of gorgeous beaches that include the Diani, Nyali, Bamburi as well as Shanzu beaches all of which are laced with white sands, palm trees and clear blue waters. The coastal regions also include geographical features such as a coral reefage which makes the snorkeling and diving in this region one of the best. These waters also contain a rich number of species, such as coral reefs, tropical fish, sea turtles and dolphins.
Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve is the continental shelf park that is situated off-shore and has colorful marine life that attracts divers and those people who wish to tour the underwater world through the glass-bottom boats.
Inland Geography
After that, Mombasa has largely a lowland terrain but also has some plains and some; the ground rises into hills. The interior is made up of good fertile grounds for groundnut and other fruits crops,coconut, cashew nuts farming and among others. Today one can see baobab trees and mangrove forests which prefer warmth and humidity.
Tanga has both new buildings and structures, old colonial buildings and architecture and also the classic Swahili houses and buildings. Small streets as well as stone houses in the Old Town represents the architectural features of the city with elements of Arab, Portuguese and British styles. The Old Town is also situated on the coastal region and thus the town is usually benefited by the blow of the monsoon winds thereby making it a good place to visit.
Rivers and Creeks
To draw attention to the ecological values such as shipping and fishing of the two creeks in Mombasa namely the Kilindini Harbor creek and the Tudor creek. These creeks are bordered with mangrove forests which accord support and shelter to numerous bird species, fish and other animals. The mangroves are very useful to the coast in that they act as barriers against storm surge, tidal bore, currents and coastal erosion.
Environmental Challenges
However, Mombasa is located in a beautiful place and this has some drawbacks. Another physical urban environment danger that is caused by constant increase of sea levels and human interference is coastal erosion. Pollution from plastics and untreated sewage threaten existence of the marine life as well as the health of the people living around. Experts are working to solve these problems with the help of the several preservation programs and eco-tourism projects.
Conclusion
The geography of Mombasa is characterised by beautiful coastlines, marine features and culture. Through history it has been a Nation strategically placed along the Indian Ocean and to date its economy and the people’s lifestyle reflect its past. Beaches vary from lively shores near the port to relaxed foreign like shores up to the interesting coral reefs that is a feature of Mombasa. Regardless of whether you are a lover of natural world, cultural heritage or interested in tropical beach holidays, Mombasa’s geographical appeal can be regarded as irresistible.