The other mountains near the equator with snow are Mount Kenya and Mount Meru, both about the same latitude as Mount Kilimanjaro. The Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda also have snow on their summits and are located near the equator.
Several mountains near the equator (within a few degrees) have permanent snow or glaciers, despite the tropical location. High altitude is what makes this possible — temperatures drop roughly 6.5°C per 1,000 m of elevation. Here are the main ones (excluding Mount Kilimanjaro):
Africa (East Africa)
- Mount Kenya (Kenya)
Latitude: Almost exactly on the equator (~0.2°S).
Height: 5,199 m (17,057 ft).
Features: 11 small glaciers (shrinking rapidly) and frequent snow on the peaks (Batian, Nelion, Point Lenana). It is the second-highest mountain in Africa and one of the most famous equatorial snow-capped peaks. - Rwenzori Mountains (Uganda / Democratic Republic of Congo)
Latitude: Straddles the equator.
Height: Up to 5,109 m (Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley).
Features: Permanent snowfields and glaciers on the highest peaks. Often called the “Mountains of the Moon,” they receive heavy rainfall that sustains ice even near the equator.
South America (Andes, Ecuador)
Ecuador has the highest concentration of equatorial snow-capped peaks:
- Chimborazo (6,263 m / 20,549 ft) — One of the most famous. Its summit is the farthest point from the Earth’s center due to the equatorial bulge.
- Cayambe (5,790 m) — The equator actually crosses this mountain, and it has permanent glaciers and snow right on the equatorial line.
- Cotopaxi (5,897 m) — A highly active volcano with a large, permanent snow/ice cap.
- Other notable ones: Antisana, El Altar, and several more in the Ecuadorian Andes.
Asia / Oceania
- Puncak Jaya (also called Carstensz Pyramid, Indonesia – Papua province)
Latitude: ~4°S.
Height: 4,884 m (16,024 ft).
Features: The only tropical glaciers in Oceania/Asia. It has significant ice fields, though they are also retreating.
Key Notes
- All these glaciers are shrinking due to climate change. Many scientists predict that Africa’s equatorial glaciers (Kilimanjaro, Kenya, and Rwenzori) could disappear within the next 10–30 years.
- The snow line near the equator is typically around 4,500–5,500 m, which is why only very high mountains in these regions keep snow year-round.
Most accessible for visitors: Mount Kenya (popular trekking/climbing) and the Ecuadorian volcanoes (especially Chimborazo and Cotopaxi). Would you like details on climbing any of these, best times to visit for snow, or comparisons to Kilimanjaro?
