Mount Elgon

This article is about the shield volcano. For the historical administrative district, see Mount Elgon District.

Mountain Elgon
Wagagai (summit)
Mount Elgon (left) and Great Rift Valley (right)
Highest point
Elevation	4,321 m (14,177 ft)
Prominence	2,457 m (8,061 ft)
Isolation	339 km (211 mi)
Listing	Mountains of Africa 16th Ultra
Coordinates	1°08′16″N 34°33′37″E
Geography
Mountain Elgon Location within Kenya Mountain Elgon Location within Uganda Mountain Elgon Location within Africa
Location	Uganda
Topo map(s)	Mount Elgon Map and Guide
Geology
Formed by	Volcanism along the Gregory Rift
Rock age	Miocene origin
Mountain type	Shield volcano
Last eruption	Unknown
Climbing
First ascent	1911 by Kmunke and Stigler
Easiest route	Scramble

Mount Elgon is an extinct shield volcano on the border of Uganda and Kenya, north of Kisumu, east of Mbale and west of Kitale. The mountain's highest point, named "Wagagai", is located entirely within Uganda. Although there is no verifiable evidence of its earliest volcanic activity, geologists estimate that Mount Elgon is at least 24 million years old, making it the oldest known extinct volcano in East Africa. The mountain's name originates from its Maasai name, “Ol Doinyo Ilgoon” (Breast Mountain).