Crater Highlands

Topographical map of the Crater Highlands, looking from the north to the southwest.

The Crater Highlands (Ngorongoro Highlands) are a region along the East African Rift in Tanzania, located in a spreading zone at the intersection of branches of the African and Somali tectonic plates, resulting in distinctive and prominent landforms.

The highlands are named for the many craters and calderas present. As 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.

The following are considered to be within the Crater Highlands:

• Lake Eyasi
• Ngorongoro Crater
• Ela Naibori Crater
• Kitumbeine Mountain
• Gelai Mountain
• Mount Loolmalasin
• Meto Hills