Guide to Mount Nyiragongo ; Mount Nyiragongo famously known as one of the remaining active stratovolcano in the entire world with an elevation standing about 3,470meter in the Virunga Mountain which is associated with the Albertine Rift .More then ,Mount Nyiragongo has a lava’s lake offering out rewardable view of the lave lake however , the mountain lies within Virunga National Park found in Democratic Republic of the Congo raising about 12 kilometers north of the town of Goma and Lake Kivu and in the western side is bordered with Rwanda.
However, the main crater is about two kilometers wide and it contains a lava lake. Of which, the crater presently offers two distinct cooled lava benches within the crater walls one measuring about 3,175 meter and a lower one at about 2,975 meter, Congo Safaris.
History tells us that Nyiragongo lava lake has at time been the most voluminous famous lave lake in past decades. Well the depth of the lava lake varies respectively. Note, a maximum elevation of the lava lake last measured with record of about 3,250 meter. Unfortunately, in 1977 eruption took place and it caused a lake depth of about 600 meter. During that year, about 245 people died in the eruption from asphyxiation by carbon dioxide as well as causing the building to collapse due to the lava and earthquakes. The history proves it right that the lava used to cover 13 per cent of Goma and about 1.8 square miles and nearly 120,000 people were left homeless. Immediately after the eruption stopped a range of earthquakes were felt around Goma and Gisenyi. Then after six months later to start of the 2002, the Nyiragongo volcano erupted again. Unfortunately in 2002 another eruption happened thus causing the lava lake to lower of about 2,600 meter. The level has gradually risen since then. The last erupt occurred in 2021 when the lava approached the Goma Airport and moved towards the city center of eastern Goma .Due to eruption that occurred it caused thousands of people to leave their homes ,over37 people were left missing and presumed dead after a lava flow reached the edge of the city of Goma . The report shows about 32 people died in the incident as well as most ones caused by car crashes. More so about, Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira, they make 40 per cent of Africa’s historical volcanic eruptions, to thrill while on Congo Safaris Tours.
Meanwhile, the volcano partly overlaps with two older volcanoes namely; Baruta and Shaheru, which is also surrounded by hundreds of small volcanic cinder cones from flank eruptions. And Nyiragongo cone comprises of pyroclastic and lava flows. Nyiragongo lava are low silica, alkali –rich which are free of feldspars. They contain various proportions mainly the minerals such as nepheline, leucite, melilite, kalsilite and clinopyroxene. Despite, the very low silica composition results in eruptions with unusual fluid flows while most lava flows move rather slowly and rarely pose a danger to human life, of which the lave flow of Nyiragongo may race downhill at up to 100kilomters.
Other related question you need to know about –Fame Mount Nyiragongo
How Mount Nyiragongo being monitored;
Mount Nyiragongo is monitored by a team of scientists at the Goma Volcanic Observatory.
Is Mount Nyiragongo still active?
Mount Nyiragongo is an active stratovolcano with an elevation of about 3,470 meter in the Virunga Mountains which is associated with the Albertine Rift.
When did Mount Nyiragongo last erupt?
The last time Mount Nyiragongo erupted was 2021 in the month of May and the effect which caused were catastrophic with more than 140 people died, because of carbon dioxide suffocation whereas thousands of people lost their homes and shifted to the neighboring Rwanda, Guide to Mount Nyiragongo .
What is Mount Nyiragongo known for?
Mount Nyiragongo Congo famously known for its devastating eruptions. Since 1977 when it erupted and caused around 2,000 people to death and in 2002 Goma was half way destroyed by lava, leaving more than 100,000 people homeless thus creating a refugee crisis.
Is Mount Nyiragongo still erupting?
Answer is yes! Though you can’t tell time –hour – day it may erupt and currently it last erupted on 22 May 2021 thus causing over 32 dead and 1,000 homes destroyed.
What was found at the surface of Nyiragongo before 1977?
Mount Nyiragongo sounds as one of Africa’s most beautiful volcanoes. This Mountain contained a lava lake in its deep at the top crater ‘’summit’ ’for half a century before draining catastrophically through its outer flanks in year 1977. The steep slopes of a stratovolcano contrast to the low profile of its neighboring shield volcano – Nyamuragira.
What is unique about Nyiragongo?
What makes Nyiragongo unique is its peculiar location which stand on a highly active segment of the Africa rift favors quick ascent of magma from about 100 kilometers beneath the Earth’s surface and extreme fluidity of lava. The most unique feature of Nyiragongo is its enormous summit crater.
How hot is the lava in Mount Nyiragongo?
Its alkaline lava has a melting temperature in amount of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Is Mount Nyiragongo a hotspot volcano?
Volcanism at Nyiragongo caused by the rifting of the Earth’s crust where two parts of the African plate breaking apart. However, a hot spot is probably for the great activity at Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira. Still the lava emitted in eruptions at Mount Nyiragongo is rarely unusually fluid.
