Nyiragongo volcano democratic republic of the congo. The two westernmost volcanoes of the virunga range zaire rep. A 1minute video of the lava lake at the bottom of mount nyiragongos crater, in virunga national park in democratic republic of congo. African rift, nyiragongo is situated just about 15 km n of the city of goma 1 million. Nyiragongo volcano democratic republic of the congo atlas. Facts about mount nyiragongo eruption active volcano congo. A system of fractures opened up on the volcano and extended down to lake kivu. Its last eruption in 1977 killed around 70 people when molten rock burst through long cracks, called fissures, lining the mountains flanks. The lava erupted from fissures on the flank of the volcano and moved at speeds up to 40 miles per. Nyiragongo previously erupted in 1977 when 40300 people may have died in villages over run by the very. Along with the nyiragongo volcanos gps coordinates, you can also check other parameters like weather, humidity, and elevation of the location. The nyiragongo main crater is charecterized by platforms attached to its inner flanks, which correspond to the former lava lake levels reached before the 1977 and 2002 flank eruptions fig. Moreover, the 2002 nyiragongo lavas are similar to the leucitebearing nephelinite lavas produced during the 1977 eruption. Its in the mid position of this riftsystem, near lake kivu, that the most active and dangerous african volcanoes can be found, the nyiragongo 3.
In 2002, lava flows from the volcano covered parts of the nearby city of goma. Home our work gaining knowledge nyiragongo, exploration into the heart of an african volcano. The january 17 2002 eruption of nyiragongo volcano started suddenly at 8. Nyiragongo in the democratic mt nyiragongo republic of congo drc had a goma major effect on the residents of the rift valley nearby town of goma on the shores of lake kivu in central africa.
The 1977 high level of the lake correspond to the discontinuous narrow terra. Lava flows ran across the town of goma 600,000 inhabitants, and ended up in lake kivu. The mount nyiragongo eruption on 17 january 2002 destroyed a large part of the centre of goma, a busy commercial centre in the eastern democratic republic of congo drc. Nyiragongo is a beautiful strato volcano that features the worlds largest lava lake. Nyiragongo volcano and the volcanic observatory of goma. A maximum elevation of the lava lake was recorded at about 3250 m 10,700 ft prior to the january 1977 eruption a lake depth of about 600 m 2000 ft. Nyiragongo eruption 1977hiking history nyiragongo volcano. Twice in recent history, nyiragongo has had two devastating volcanic eruptions, the first related to the lava lake, while the second from a deadly eruption off the flank of the volcano. Guide to nyiragongo crater, hikes, where to stay, trip guide and so much more. The upper platform p1 is the uppermost lava lake level reached in april 1972 tazieff, 1975.
Mount nyiragongo is located in the eastern part of zaire, or the democratic republic of congo in africa. A fissure eruption began at nyiragongo volcano on 17th january 2002. The volcano a few years later in 2010 showed some signs of an eruption but it did not happen until date today in 2020. Mar 24, 2011 nyiragongo eruption congo goma eruptions volcano volcanic erupt pyroclastic waves vulcani eruptie vulcanica lava valuri piroclastice eruptie eruptii national geographic discovery science dramatic. Nyiragongos summit rim is largely devoid of vegetation and is frequently dusted with snow. This lava lake was another unusual feature of the volcano. Human health and vulnerability in the nyiragongo volcano. Nyiragongo 2016 mount nyiragongo stratovolcano in the democratic republic of the congo mount nyiragongo is an active stratovolcano with an elevation of 3470 m in the virunga mountains associated with the albertine. Together with nyamuragira in the same range, it is the mound behind two fifths of all historical eruptions in africa. And the big one of 17 january, 2002, after a great deal of seismic and fumarolic activities had.
Its eruption in 2002 caused widespread devastation. Mount nyiragongo, 10 kilometres from the city of goma in the democratic republic of congo, erupted on thursday 17 january in the. Mount nyiragongo article about mount nyiragongo by the free. Inside the nyiragongo volcano a fearless explorer and photographer, carsten peter takes a daring journey to capture images of. To find the latitude and longitude of nyiragongo volcano, please enter the location name in the control. Nyiragongo is one of africas most wellknown volcanoes because of recent catastrophic eruptions. Pronunciation of nyiragongo with 3 audio pronunciations, 1 synonym, 1 meaning, 5 translations, 2 sentences and more for nyiragongo. Inside nyiragongo watch the most dangerous volcano video scientists explore the volcanic lake due to the importance of this volcano and the studies and research conducted around it and the seriousness and the successor behind it, a team of scientists from different countries recently in a detailed study on the volcanic lake of nyiragongo to determine what the lava and what is composed.
The stratovolcano is one of eight unresting mountains in the virunga range, caused by the east african rift. Mount nyiragongo is an active stratovolcano with an elevation of 3,470 m 11,380 ft in the. Nyiragongo is a twomilehigh volcano towering over the eastern edge of the democratic republic of the congo drcone of the most active volcanoes on the planet and also one of the least studied. The two volcanoes sit along the edge of the western rift, part of a giant crack. Process of the 1977 nyiragongo eruption inferred from the. A 1minute video of the lava lake at the bottom of mount nyiragongo s crater, in virunga national park in democratic republic of congo. Nyiragongo, exploration into the heart of an african volcano petzl. Two east african volcanoes, nyamuragira and nyiragongo, account for 40 percent of all recorded eruptions in africa. The volcano, located in the democratic republic of congo, constantly. Cars in the city of goma, buried in lava from the 2002 eruption. The volcanic hazards mitigation was studied on the basis of the nyiragongo volcano eruption on january 17, 2002, in the virunga volcanic region, western rift valley of africa.
Estimates of the impact of nyiragongo volcano eruption on. An estimated 80,000 people about 16,000 households became homeless, and a very large number lost their workplace. Due to the varying depth of the larva lake, a maximum elevation of approximately 3,250m10,660 ft was recorded prior to the eruption occurrence in january, 1977 with a lake depth of 2700m8900 ft. In 1977, there was an active volcanic activity when the walls fractured and the lava lake drained in one hour creating the fastest lava flow recorded 40mih. Nyiragongo was in 1977, when the lava flow covered 20 square kilometers, killed 2,000 people, and destroyed 400 houses and a 10kilometre section of road.
Mount nyiragongo volcano alongside nyamuragira have been responsible for 40% of africas volcanic eruptions. Nyiragongo is a volcano in central africa and the creator of legends and tragedy. In 1977 and then in 2002, the lava lake located at the bottom of the crater. Mount nyiragongo volcano hike virunga national park. It is km northnorthwest of nyiragongo, the volcano which caused extensive damage to the city of goma in its 2002 eruption. Nyiragongo volcano in democratic republic of the congo. The nyamuragira erupted between 1894 and 1979 for fifteen times and is still active forming large lavastreams well recognizable on satellite imagines, however. Nyiragongo s lava lake is found at a maximum elevation of 3250m predisaster, inside a 3465m tall stratovolcano. Teach your students about volcanoes with this collection of engaging material.
The volcano niragongo delivered an exeeptionally short, yet important, eruption on 10 jan. Nyiragongo also spelled niragongo, one of the worlds most beautiful and active volcanoes, is a large stratovolcano near lake kivu at the eastern border of drcongo with rwanda in the virunga national park. Situated in the great lakes region of africa,in east dr congo,19 km from goma city eastern congo capital, near rwanda. The 1977 crater was about 800 m deep ten days after the eruption. This means that the entire group has to keep the pace of the slowest hiker which apparently was going to be me.
The mount nyiragongo has erupted in the years of 1884,1894,1898,1900, 1977,1982,1994 to 1996 and 2002 in may which was the last year there was an active eruption at the volcano. This kind of fast flowing lava is unique to nyiragongo stratovolcano. Process of the 1977 nyiragongo eruption inferred from the analysis. Of eight volcanoes that straddle the borders of rwanda, congo, and uganda, mount nyiragongo is the most feared. Eruptive activities of the nyiragongo volcano according to tazieff 1977 and ueki 1983, the inside of the crater before the 1977 eruption was terraced into three horizontal floors of solidi fied lava encircling the deep crater pits fig.
For the current eruption, there have been no reports of damage. Nyiragongo volcano webcams interactive viewer including. Earthqaukes foretold nyiragongo eruption nyiragongo volcano democratic republic of congo 1. How to obtain mount nyiragongo hike permit nyiragongo volcano. Hike mount nyiragongo, the worlds largest active volcano. The 1977 eruption raised awareness of the unique dangers posed by nyiragongo, and because of this it was designated a decade volcano, worthy of particular study, in 1991. Vegetation in virunga national park congo nyiragongo volcano. Nyamuragira volcano is an active volcano near the city of goma of the democratic republic of the congo, situated about 25 km north of lake kivu. Mount nyiragongo, 10 kilometres from the city of goma in the democratic republic of congo, erupted on thursday 17 january in the afternoon and lava began flowing into the. Nyiragongos lava lake is found at a maximum elevation of 3250m predisaster, inside a 3465m tall stratovolcano. Inside the nyiragongo volcano a fearless explorer and photographer, carsten peter takes a daring journey to capture images of the largest lava lake on earth. The lava erupted from fissures on the flank of the volcano and moved at speeds up to 40 miles per hour 60 kmhr.
Prior to its 2002 eruption, this volcano wrought havoc in 1977 when it emptied a lava lake at its summit and caused a very fluid, fast. Multiple lava flows entered the town of goma, 18 km south of the volcano. Mount nyiragongo is a highly active volcano in the democratic republic of the congo. The volcanos forested lower slopes are home to a variety of animals, including chimpanzees, monkeys, and bush buck. Chemical analyses of lavas from the january 2002 and january 1977 nyiragongo eruptions.
It is the only volcano on earth which is still have high activities,its the only high active volcano among its neighbors in the virunga mountains. The lava lake drained out through a series of perpendicular ns and ew fissures which broke open at altitudes up to approximately 2,200 m on the. Climbing mount nyiragongo volcano in the congo heart my. Mount nyiragongo virunga national park volcanic eruption. Discover nyiragongo volcano in democratic republic of the congo. Mount nyiragongo last erupted in 1977, killing around 500 people, and threatened to do so again in june 1994, when some 800,000 refugees. An eruption began at nyiragongo on 17 january 2002 with some lava flows and possibly their feeding fissure vents entering the city of goma 18 km s of the volcano, population 400,000 in the democratic republic of congo drc and threatening refugee camps figure 10. Nyamuragira and nyiragongo volcanic eruptions seen from. One of the continents most active volcanoes is located north of lake kivu in the. The term also includes the coneshaped landform built by repeated eruptions over time. Homes, schools, churches and businesses were ruined.
The fractures on the flanks of the volcano covered 20 km and had an average width of 10 m. The upper platform p1 is the uppermost lava lake level reached in april 1972. The summit of nyiragongo contained an active lava lake from 1874 to 1977. Nov 06, 2009 on january 17th, 2002, nyiragongo volcano erupted. Nyiragongo is a stratovolcano linked to the great rift valley. In 2002, the eruption at nyiragongo was strong in that some of the lava flows were clocked at 100 kmhr reaching as far as lake kivu. Mount nyiragongo volcano, hiking tours, eruption guide. The sequence of events during this eruption was elucidated by analysis of seven, longperiod earthquakes lp events and volcanic tremors. The survey of nyiragongo volcano began from its flank fissure eruption on january 10, 1977. Interactive online tool to view volcano webcams and live seismic recordings sidebyside online. An estimated volume of 50,000 cubic m of lava was expelled by the phreatomagmatic eruption which immediatelyfollowed the collapse of the inner parts of the crater.
In 2002 another active eruption occurred when a km fissure opened in the south flank of the volcano. The lava lake drained in 1977, causing numerous fatalities. Regarding the great eruption in 1977, lava lakes immediately began to reform in the crater with series of eruptions in 1982,1983, 1994. Facts about mount nyiragongo eruption active volcano congo, mount nyiragongo in democratic republic of congo and the oldest national park of virunga national park it lies on the active volcano of mt nyiragongo that is open for touris and othe visitors for hikingclimbing and its still erupting upto now mt nyiragongo is an active volcano with an elevation of 3470m 182 ft in the virunga.
The most recent and better studied cases occurred in 1977 tazieff. Spectacular lava bubbles and explosions were occurring continuously. The january 2002 flank eruption of nyiragongo volcano drc. In january 2002, lava flowed from the volcano into the city of goma, displacing thousands. I travelled to central africa where i was part of an expedition to visit and photograph the rarely visited nyiragongo volcano in the democratic republic of congo. Eruptions from murara reduced considerably after the eruption of mount nyiragongo on january 10, 1977 and ended completely in april 1977. Nyiragongo in 2002 a major eruption from mt key terms. Every eruption has killed dozens of people caught by surprise as the lava.
On january 10, 1977, the lava lake drained in less than one hour. Visit nyiragongo hiking mount nyiragongo volcanovisit virunga. Volcanoes can obliterate entire cities in a matter of minutes. At 3,470 meters 11,384 feet high, nyiragongo volcano is a stratovolcano, a steepsloped structure composed of alternating layers of solidified ash, hardened lava, and rocks ejected by previous eruptions. The eruption effectively involved a reopening and extension of the 1977 fault system and a renewed drainage of the lava lake, followed by the eruption of some magma from a deeper source. To the northwest of nyiragongo lies another volcano, murara.
Nyiragongo, volcano, eruption, hazards, mitigation1 abstract. In addition to the staggering human costs of this natural disaster, awf is beginning to learn about the impact on wildlife from the mount nyiragongo eruption. Jan 21, 2002 an eruption began at nyiragongo on 17 january 2002 with some lava flows and possibly their feeding fissure vents entering the city of goma 18 km s of the volcano, population 400,000 in the democratic republic of congo drc and threatening refugee camps figure 10. Because the thing about the nyiragongo volcano trek is that the group has to stay together at all times, as you are walking with an armed guard at the front and rear of the group.
Longterm monitoring of so2 quiescent degassing from. At that time, the town of goma was in the hands of. Neighboring nyamuragira also known as mount nyamulagira is a shield volcano a shallowsloped volcano resembling a giant warrior shieldformed from hardened lava flows. The 1977 eruption was preceded by the creation of a new small volcano, murara, a short distance away on. One of africas most notable volcanoes, nyiragongo contained a lava lake in its deep summit crater that was active for half a century before draining catastrophically through its outer flanks in 1977. Congo, north kivu, nyiragongo volcano, eruption of nyiragongo volcano, one of the three volcanoes in the world with a lava lake january 21, 2011 nighttime view of summit caldera with lava lake, nyiragongo volcano, democratic republic congo. A crater at the summit of nyiragongo contained a lava lake from 1894 to 1977. Mount nyiragongo is a magnificent active volcano that features the worlds largest lava lake making it one of the few volcanoes in africa that offers some of the top hiking and climbing possibilities.
Inside nyiragongo watch the most dangerous volcano video. Mount nyiragongo in the democratic republic of congo showing signs of life again, after catastrophic 2002 eruption. In contrast to its neighbor, nyamuragira or nyamulagira volcano is a shield volcano, composed of old lava flows, that derives its description from its resemblance to an ancient warrior shield. Mount nyiragongo in the democratic republic of congo the. Analysis at crpg, cnrs, vandoeuvrelesnancy, france.
Nyiragongo volcano eruption 1977 john seach democratic republic of congo formerly zaire draining of lava lake in 1977 eruption. Murara was a small, shortlived, volcano that began erupting on december 23, 1976. It appears most the lava came from the base of the volcano, but rivers of lava also poured down its flanks into a valley to the south, destroying 4 villages, between the base of the. A volcano is defined as an opening in the earths crust through which lava, ash, and gases erupt. The 1977 eruption was preceded by the creation of a new small volcano, murara, a short distance away on the slopes of nyamuragira. Nyiragongo is a stratovolcanoa steepsloped cone composed of alternating layers of hardened lava, solidified ash, and rocks ejected by previous eruptions. Mount nyiragongos eruptions are always predictable and hikers are normally warned when signs have been observed, they therefore go there when the area is safe. Prior to its 2002 eruption, this volcano wrought havoc in 1977 when it emptied a lava lake at its summit and caused a very fluid, fastmoving lava flow.
Pdf the january 2002 flank eruption of nyiragongo volcano drc. Human health and vulnerability in the nyiragongo volcano crisis dr. Mount nyiragongo eruption the eruption of mount nyiragongo. Although it is not particularly well known, mount nyiragongo is an important and interesting, as well as a destructive volcano.
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