The map below shows the physical regions of Kenya. Use it to answer the questions that follow.

KCSE Geography Paper 1 2002 Section B Question 7.

​ The map below shows the physical regions of Kenya. Use it to answer the questions that follow.

​a) i) Name the regions marked. X, Y and Z.

• X – Coastal plain / lowlands
• Y – Kenya highlands / Central highlands
• Z- The lake basin / lake plateau

​ii) Give the major economic importance of each of the lakes marked S and T.

• S – Fishing
• T- Mining

​iii) Describe how Mt.kenya was formed.

• The underlying molten rock escaped through a vent to the surface / volcanic eruption occurred.
• There were violent eruptions, which ejected acidic cooled and solidified.
• The lava piled in layers around the vent.
• The lava did not flow very far from the vent
• Over the years, eruption ceased and the volcano became extinct.
• Erosion set is exposing the plug and producing the jugged peak of the mountain.

​iv) State three ways through which Mt.kenya has influenced the drainage of the area.

• Due to the conical shape of the mountain, the rivers form radial drainage patterns.
• At the lower slopes the rovers form dendritic patterns.
• The mountain is a catchment area / source for many rivers.
• The mountain has glacial lakes near its top.
• The mountain is very high (5199m above the sea level) allowing the formation of snow / ice leading to constant supply of water for rivers.

​c) Suppose students are to carry out a field study of the soils found in the Nyika plateau.
i) State three methods they are likely to use to collect data.

• Reading from textbooks.
• Collection soil samples
• Observation 
• Interviewing resource persons.
• Digging the soils
• Photographing

​ii) The students identity the soils for further analysis. Give three characteristics of the desert soils that they are likely to study.

• Its colour
• Its texture
• Its porosity
• Its nutrient content / organic matter
• Its mineral composition
• Its acidity / PH
• Moisture content

​Related Geography Searches on external land forms, rivers Form 3 Level.

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