Topographical map of the Crater Highlands, looking from the north to the southwest.
The Crater Highlands or Ngorongoro Volcanic Highlands (Milima kasoko ya Ngorongoro , in Swahili) are a geological region along the East African Rift in the Arusha Region and parts of northern Manyara Region in north Tanzania. The Crater Highlands are made up of several large volcanic complexes, including the 2.4-2.2 Ma Lemagarut and 2.25-2.0 Ma Ngorongoro basalt-trachybasalt-trachyandesite volcanoes (Ngorongoro also contains trachydacite) and the 1.6-1.5 Ma Oldeani basalt-trachyandesite volcano.[1]
The highlands are named for the many craters and calderas present. As is common in spreading zones, volcanoes can be found here. Magma, rising to fill the gaps, reaches the surface and builds cones. Calderas form if a volcano explodes or collapses, following the emptying of the magma chamber below, and further spreading can fracture the volcanoes as well.[2]
There are a variety of scenic walks and hikes requiring various fitness levels, as well as trips to the famous Ngorongoro Crater and visits to local villages.
^Zaitsev, A., Marks, M., Wenzel, T., Spratt, J., Sharygin, V., Strekopytov, S., & Markl, G. (2012). Mineralogy, geochemistry and petrology of the phonolitic to nephelinitic Sadiman volcano, Crater Highlands, Tanzania. Lithos, 152, 66-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2012.03.001
