Nakuru County
| Nakuru County | |
|---|---|
| County | |
Flamingos at Lake Nakuru
|
|
 Location of Nakuru County in Kenya |
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| Coordinates: 0°30′S 36°0′E / 0.500°S 36.000°ECoordinates: 0°30′S 36°0′E / 0.500°S 36.000°E | |
| Country |
 Kenya
|
| Formed | 4 March 2013 |
| Capital and largest town | Nakuru |
| Other towns | Naivasha |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Kinuthia Mbugua |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7,509.5 km2 (2,899.4 sq mi) |
| Population (2009) | |
| • Total | 1,603,325 |
| Time zone | EAT (UTC+3) |
| Website | nakuru |
Nakuru County is a county in Kenya. The capital and largest town is Nakuru, although Naivasha is another major significant urban centre. With a population of 1,603,325 (2009 census), it is the fourth largest county in Kenya after Nairobi, Kakamega and Kiambu in that order in terms of population. Nakuru County has an area of 2,325.8 km².
Nakuru County is home to Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha some of the Rift Valley soda lakes. Lake Nakuru is best known for its thousands, sometimes millions of flamingoes nesting along the shores. The surface of the shallow lake is often hardly recognisable due to the continually shifting mass of pink. The number of flamingoes on the lake varies with water and food conditions and the best vantage point is from Baboon cliff. Also of interest, an area of 188 km around the lake fenced off as a sanctuary to protect Rothschild giraffe and black rhinos.
Other sites of interest around Nakuru include Menengai Crater, an extinct volcano 2,490m (8,167 ft) high. The views of the crater itself, as well as the surrounding countryside, are spectacular.
Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site, discovered by the Leakeys in 1926, is considered a major Neolithic and Iron Age site. The adjoining museum features finds from various nearby excavations.
The second largest surviving volcanic crater in the world, the Menengai Crater is 2,242 meters above sea level at its highest point. The crater plunges 483 m down from the rim and the summit is accessible by foot or vehicle 8 km from the main road. The mountain is also surrounded by a nature reserve.
RVIST is a tourist attraction.
Surrounding towns include Lanet, which lies approximately 10 km from Nakuru is predominantly a residential town and is home to an army base. Njoro lies 20 km from Nakuru and is a small agricultural town with a local university aimed at promoting agricultural development in Kenya, namely Egerton University (est. 1934).
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Wikipedia