KARISIMBI, MOUNT

highest peak (14,787 feet ) in the volcanic Virunga Mountains of east-central Africa. It lies on the border of the republics of Congo (Kinshasa) and Rwanda, 18 miles (29 km) northeast of Goma, Congo, in the Virunga National Park. Karisimbi is the habitat of gorillas and is known for its exotic plants; it also has four belts of vegetation, from the dense forest at its base to the barren volcanic core.