Nyiragongo volcano democratic republic of the congo atlas. Estimates of the impact of nyiragongo volcano eruption on. The two westernmost volcanoes of the virunga range zaire rep. 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. Mount nyiragongo, 10 kilometres from the city of goma in the democratic republic of congo, erupted on thursday 17 january in the. 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. For over a week before nyiragongo erupted, local people felt tremors and small earthquakes. 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.
The summit of nyiragongo contained an active lava lake from 1874 to 1977. The 2002 eruption of nyiragongo volcano was the worlds most dramatic example of a lava flow through a major town. The lava erupted from fissures on the flank of the volcano and moved at speeds up to 40 miles per hour 60 kmhr. Congo, north kivu, nyiragongo volcano, eruption of nyiragongo volcano, one of the three volcanoes in the world with a lava lake. The 2002 eruption of nyiragongo volcano constitutes the most outstanding case ever of lava flow in a big town. Tens of thousands flee a devastating volcano in congo the new. A selection of photographs taken by ingrid smet during our june 2017 nyiragongo lava lake and mountain gorillas expedition in the dr congo which included a 3 days nights stay on nyiragongo volcano. 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.
This text is an updated version of the page dedicated to nyiragongo on the gorisk website nyiragongo 3470 m a. This occurred during nyiragongos lethal eruptions in 1977 and 2002. Nov 06, 2009 on january 17th, 2002, nyiragongo volcano erupted. Discover nyiragongo volcano in democratic republic of the congo. Adventure awaits those willing to trek the democratic republic of congos volatile mount nyiragongo. Nyiragongo is a stratovolcano in the form of a regular truncated cone with a welllike crater about 1 km in diameter, with a molten lava pool at the bottom. An estimated 80,000 people about 16,000 households became homeless, and a very large number lost their workplace. Process of the 1977 nyiragongo eruption inferred from the analysis. It also represents one of the very rare cases of direct casualties from lava flows, which had high velocities of up to tens of kilometer per hour. But the volcano continued to spew and residents, recalling a 1977 eruption. A smaller lake reforms in the crater approximately feet 40 m in diameter. Nova volcano under the city anatomy of nyiragongo nonflash. Jun 22, 2017 adventure awaits those willing to trek the democratic republic of congos volatile mount nyiragongo. 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.
The lava erupted from fissures on the flank of the volcano and moved at speeds up to 40 miles per. Nyiragongos lava lake is found at a maximum elevation of 3250m predisaster, inside a 3465m tall stratovolcano. Nyiragongo s lava lake is found at a maximum elevation of 3250m predisaster, inside a 3465m tall stratovolcano. Nyamuragira and nyiragongo are neighbouring volcanoes in the drc democratic. Volcanological and petrological evolution of nyiragongo volcano.
Situated on the northern shores of lake kivu in the democratic republic of the congo, the volcano has been erupting intermittently for much of 2004. Another volcano, nyamuragira, just 15 miles to the north of nyiragongo displays much more conventional lava compositions. According to the united states geologic survey, there are approximately 1,500 potentially active volcanoes worldwide. But nyiragongo is best known for having produced the fastest lava flows recorded 60kmh according to some estimates in 1977, when the lava lake spilled out through a. Located inside virunga national park, in the democratic republic of the congo, about 20 km 12 mi north from the town of goma and lake kivu and just west of the border with rwanda. As in the 1977 eruption, which is the only other eccentric eruption of the volcano in more than 100 years, lava flows were emitted from. Mount nyiragongo article about mount nyiragongo by the. Such deadly lava flows occurred during the only documented historical eruption of nyiragongo in 1977 tazieff, 1977. 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. It summarises the achievements of the humanitarian response, establishes the. The eruption of mount nyiragongo appears to have died down for the present, but the lava has engulfed large areas of goma and life there remains extremely difficult. Pronunciation of nyiragongo with 3 audio pronunciations, 1 synonym, 1 meaning, 5 translations, 2 sentences and more for nyiragongo. A river of molten rock poured from the nyiragongo volcano in congo on january 18, 2002, a day after it erupted, killing dozens, swallowing buildings and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee the town of goma. Of eight volcanoes that straddle the borders of rwanda, congo, and uganda, mount nyiragongo is the most feared.
Nyiragongos proximity to heavily populated areas increases its potential for causing a natural disaster. Human health and vulnerability in the nyiragongo volcano crisis. Lava flows ran across the town of goma 600,000 inhabitants, and ended up in lake kivu. 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. On january 10, 1977, the lava lake drained in less than one hour. A 1minute video of the lava lake at the bottom of mount nyiragongos crater, in virunga national park in democratic republic of congo. 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 rift. Most are located around the pacific ocean in what is commonly called the ring of fire. Jan 29, 2002 estimates of the impact of nyiragongo volcano eruption on wildlife begin tuesday, january 29, 2002 the nyiragongo volcano is one of eight in drc along the border with rwanda. Nyiragongo in 2002 a major eruption from mt key terms. A selection of photographs taken by ingrid smet during our june 2017 nyiragongo lava lake and mountain gorillas expedition in the dr congo which included a 3. Mount nyiragongo volcano, hiking tours, eruption guide. The survey of nyiragongo volcano began from its flank fissure eruption on january 10, 1977. Jul 12, 2004 situated on the northern shores of lake kivu in the democratic republic of the congo, the volcano has been erupting intermittently for much of 2004.
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. Visit nyiragongo hiking mount nyiragongo volcanovisit. Democratic republic of congo formerly zaire july 17th july 30th 2006. It was a 7 hour hike up the steep slopes to the top. Nyiragongo volcano democratic republic of the congo. Lava lake at the summit of nyiragongo suddenly drains from fissures at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour 60 kmh. Nyiragongo previously erupted in 1977, when lava flow covered 20 square km. The lava lake drained out through a series of perpendicular ns and ew. Jan 23, 2002 the eruption of mount nyiragongo appears to have died down for the present, but the lava has engulfed large areas of goma and life there remains extremely difficult. In january 2002, lava flowed from the volcano into the city of goma, displacing thousands. The mount nyiragongo eruption in goma 3 executive summary on 21 january 2002, a donor alert was released in the aftermath of the nyiragongo lava flow disaster in goma.
In contrast to its neighbor volcano, nyamuragira, a typical, and very active shield volcano comparable with mauna loa, the 3470mhigh nyiragongo displays the steep slopes of a stratovolcano. 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. In 2002 several vents opened along a huge system of fractures, pouring out lava which reached and destroyed a considerable part of goma, a town of about 500,000 inhabitants on the shore of lake kivu. Aster image acquired january 28, 2002 over goma and nyiragongo volcano. Nyiragongo article about nyiragongo by the free dictionary. Nyiragongo previously erupted in 1977 when 40300 people may have died in villages over run by the very fluid lava which broke out of the crater without warning. Basu says this is because nyamuragira is being fed from the edge of where the plumes head is pooling, mixing in elements of melted crust and upper mantle, whereas nyiragongo is being fed directly from the plumes main body.
A crater at the summit of nyiragongo contained a lava lake from 1894 to 1977. Nyiragongo volcano and the volcanic observatory of goma, congo. The 1977 eruption was preceded by the creation of a new small volcano, murara, a short distance away on the slopes of nyamuragira. Its last eruption in 1977 killed around 70 people when molten rock burst through long cracks, called fissures, lining the mountains flanks. Climbing nyiragongo, mount nyiragongo volcano hiking. 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. The lava has cut off routes into goma and divided the town in two, complicating the aid effort. 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. It is located in the western part of the virunga volcanic province north kivu, d. Nyiragongo volcano, which stands 11,380 feet high and has a deadly past, began erupting before dawn on thursday, sending a torrent of ash into.
For the current eruption, there have been no reports of damage. The present update attempts to reflect on the response given and constraints faced since then. Located inside virunga national park, in the democratic republic of the congo, about 20 km 12 mi north from the town of goma and. Congo, in the depression of the western branch of the east african rift.
The type of lava erupted by nyiragongo and many volcanoes in the east rift zone of africa. Nyiragongo is one of africas most wellknown volcanoes because of recent catastrophic eruptions. Mount nyiragongo definition of mount nyiragongo by the. January 21, 2011 lava rafts floating on lava lake in summit caldera, nyiragongo volcano, democratic republic of the congo. The 11,381foot volcano produced a fissure and three paths of lava, one of which headed toward the. Homes, schools, churches and businesses were ruined. Investigations of nyamuragira and nyiragongo volcanoes. Hike mount nyiragongo, the worlds largest active volcano. Nyiragongo an active volcano in eastern congo belgian congo, congo, democratic republic of the congo, zaire a republic in central africa.
Pdf human health and vulnerability in the nyiragongo volcano. The january 17 2002 eruption of nyiragongo volcano started suddenly at 8. Mount nyiragongo virunga national park volcanic eruption. The sequence of events during this eruption was elucidated by analysis of seven, longperiod earthquakes lp events and volcanic tremors. Nyiragongo is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world for the risk associated with the propagation of lava flows.
Nyiragongo eruption 1977hiking history nyiragongo volcano. A volcano is defined as an opening in the earths crust through which lava, ash, and gases erupt. Nyiragongo, volcano, eruption, hazards, mitigation1 abstract. The eruption of nyiragongo in 1977 produced extremely fluid, fastmoving up to. Nyiragongos lava lake has at times been the most voluminous known lava lake in recent history.
Magma sources involved in the 2002 nyiragongo eruption, as. Latest earthquakes near nyiragongo volcano nyiragongo. Why is the nyiragongo volcano lava different from others. Nyiragongo s proximity to heavily populated areas increases its potential for causing a natural disaster. Mount nyiragongo is a highly active volcano in the democratic republic of the congo. Guide to nyiragongo crater, hikes, where to stay, trip guide and so much more. To the northwest of nyiragongo lies another volcano, murara. Eruptions from murara reduced considerably after the eruption of mount nyiragongo on january 10, 1977 and ended completely in april 1977. One of africas most notable volcanoes, nyiragongo contained an active lava lake. 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. 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. Mount nyiragongo article about mount nyiragongo by the free. Facts about mount nyiragongo eruption active volcano congo. The depth of the lava lake varies considerably depending on the activity of the volcano.
Congo, north kivu, nyiragongo volcano, eruption of nyiragongo volcano, one of the three volcanoes in the world with a lava lake january 21, 2011 lava rafts floating on lava lake in summit caldera, nyiragongo volcano, democratic republic of the congo. Lava flow hazard at nyiragongo volcano, drc springerlink. Visit nyiragongo hiking mount nyiragongo volcanovisit virunga. Nyiragongo volcano eruption 2002 john seach democratic republic of congo. The steep slopes of a stratovolcano contrast to the low profile of its neighboring shield volcano, nyamuragira.
Three major phases are distinguished during the growth of nyiragongo, an. M ount nyiragongo is an active stratovolcano with an elevation of 3470 m 182 ft in the virunga mountains associated with the albertine rift. Eruption of the nyiragongo volcano, democratic republic of. 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. The 2002 eruption of nyiragongo volcano lasted for one day, destroyed 15% of goma, including part of the international airport and the business centre. 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. Nyiragongo volcano eruption 1977 john seach democratic republic of congo formerly zaire draining of lava lake in 1977 eruption. Between 1894 and 1977 the crater contained an active lava lake. Murara was a small, shortlived, volcano that began erupting on december 23, 1976. Its eruption in 2002 caused widespread devastation. At that time, the town of goma was in the hands of.