Three major phases are distinguished during the growth of nyiragongo, an active volcano at the western limit. It is 11,385 feet 3,470 metres high, with a main crater 1. Tectonophysics, 209 1992 241254 eisevier science publishers b. The lava lake drained in 1977, causing numerous fatalities. An estimated 80,000 people about 16,000 households became homeless, and a very large number lost their workplace. The 1977 eruption was preceded by the creation of a new small volcano, murara, a short distance away on the slopes of mount nyamuragira. The two westernmost volcanoes of the virunga range zaire rep. A maximum elevation of the lava lake was recorded at about 3,250 m 10,660 ft prior to the january 1977 eruption a lake depth of about 600 m 2,000 ft. African rift, nyiragongo is situated just about 15 km n of the city of goma 1 million. Nyiragongo, exploration into the heart of an african volcano petzl. For the current eruption, there have been no reports of damage. 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 previously erupted in 1977 when 40300 people may have died in villages over run by the very. Strangest facts about mount nyiragongo strangest facts about mount nyiragongo. Nyiragongo eruption 1977hiking history nyiragongo volcano. The lava erupted from fissures on the flank of the volcano and moved at speeds up to 40 miles per hour 60 kmhr. Volcanological and petrological evolution of nyiragongo volcano, virunga. Igneous provinces of the great rift valley modified after u. Mount nyiragongo last erupted in 1977, killing around 500 people, and threatened to do so again in june 1994, when some 800,000 refugees. Nyiragongo volcano eruption destroyed the city of goma. 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. Yet, this simultaneity is probably not due to mere coincidence. Nyiragongo volcano in democratic republic of the congo.
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. Nyiragongo volcano eruption 1977 john seach democratic republic of congo formerly zaire draining of lava lake in 1977 eruption. This text is an updated version of the page dedicated to nyiragongo on the gorisk website. The 1977 high level of the lake correspond to the discontinuous narrow terra. The 33 tonnes of watercleansing equipment and bedding provided by oxfam arrived in neighbouring rwanda on sunday and is being moved by road to refugee camps set up on the border. Lava flows ran across the town of goma 600,000 inhabitants, and ended up in lake kivu. Extremely fluid, fastmoving lava flows draining from the summit lava lake in 1977 killed 50 to 100 people, and several villages were destroyed. 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. Then, during the 2002 eruption, that fracture system was reactivated, and the flowing magma propagated the fractures closer to the city. The sequence of events during this eruption was elucidated by analysis of seven, longperiod earthquakes lp events and volcanic tremors recorded at stations lwi, nai and bul. Human health and vulnerability in the nyiragongo volcano crisis dr. It is the most active volcano in africa and it last erupted in 2002.
This was the first occasion when lava flows significantly damaged a major city since the eruption of etna in 1669. It lies in the volcano region of virunga national park, congo kinshasa, near the border with rwanda, 12 miles 19 km north of goma. Nyiragongo is one of africas most wellknown volcanoes because of recent catastrophic eruptions. A crater at the summit of nyiragongo contained a lava lake from 1894 to 1977. The location of the stippled flow on nyiragongo was provided by m. 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. 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. 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. Visit nyiragongo hiking mount nyiragongo volcanovisit. Mount nyiragongo volcano, hiking tours, eruption guide. Mount nyiragongo mountain, democratic republic of the. How to obtain mount nyiragongo hike permit nyiragongo. Yet these volcanoes differ markedly from each other, one being a lowprofiled structure rising. Nyiragongo previously erupted in 1977, when lava flow covered 20 square km, destroyed 400.
Strangest facts about mount nyiragongo facts about. Mount nyiragongo, active volcano in the virunga mountains of eastcentral africa. 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. Neither of the two outbursts did have, even slightly, any detectable effect on each other. Pdf january 2002 volcanotectonic eruption of nyiragongo. The 1977 eruption was preceded by the creation of a new small volcano, murara, a short distance away on the slopes of nyamuragira. Volcanological and petrological evolution of nyiragongo volcano. Nyiragongo volcano and the volcanic observatory of goma. 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. Nyiragongo is an active stratovolcano situated on the eastern african rift. The falsecolor modis image in this pair shows the ash and steam cloud as orange in contrast. Lacul cu lava al lui nyiragongo este cel mai voluminos lac cu lava cunoscut in istoria. In 1977 and then in 2002, the lava lake located at the bottom of the crater. 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.
Nyiragongo is such a ticking bomb because of its highly fluid lava. The speed of the flows in 2002 and in a similar fissure eruption in 1977 were exceptionally high, making nyiragongo one of few volcanoes where lava flows present an immediate hazard to human life. This lava lake was another unusual feature of the volcano. It is located in the western part of the virunga volcanic province north kivu, d. Discover nyiragongo volcano in democratic republic of the congo. Mount nyiragongo is a highly active volcano in the democratic republic of the congo. Nyiragongo volcano democratic republic of the congo. The 1977 eruption was preceded by the creation of a new small volcanic vent, murara, a short distance. 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.
Eruptions from murara reduced considerably after the eruption of mount nyiragongo on january 10, 1977 and ended completely in april 1977. Murara was a small, shortlived, volcano that began erupting on december 23, 1976. Guide to nyiragongo crater, hikes, where to stay, trip guide and so much more. Nyamuragira, which erupted early last year causing no casualties, and nyiragongo. The volcano, located in the democratic republic of congo, constantly threatens the. Estimates of the impact of nyiragongo volcano eruption on. In january 2002, lava flowed from the volcano into the city of goma, displacing thousands. The lava erupted from fissures on the flank of the volcano and moved at speeds up to 40 miles per. Its beautiful, but its also a troubling reminder of a 14yearold catastrophe. Process of the 1977 nyiragongo eruption inferred from the. For five decades, the volcano cradled an active lava lake in its summit crater. Nyiragongo volcano eruption destroyed the city of goma, congo. The upper platform p1 is the uppermost lava lake level reached in april 1972.
Nyiragongo in 2002 a major eruption from mt key terms. The last major eruption from nyiragongo occurred on january 10, 1977 having rapid lava speeds of up to 60 km per hour and covered a span of 20 sq. In central africa, in the democratic republic of the congo, sit two volcanoes. Map of eruption sites and lava flows at nyiragongo and nyamuragiras 1977 murara vent. Nyiragongo volcano erupting near gorilla park african. Mount nyiragongo, 10 kilometres from the city of goma in the democratic republic of congo, erupted on thursday 17 january in the. Hike mount nyiragongo, the worlds largest active volcano. 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.
Process of the 1977 nyiragongo eruption inferred from the analysis. Nyiragongos lava lake has at times been the most voluminous known lava lake in recent history. The last time the volcano erupted in 2002 it killed 147 people and forced 400,000 people to flee the. Its eruption in 2002 caused widespread devastation. Besides their proximity to lake kivu in the south, these volcanoes share the capacity for destruction, each having produced its share of catastrophic eruptions since the early twentieth century. On january 10, 1977, the lava lake drained in less than one hour. The nyiragongo volcano is located in the virunga national park in the democratic republic of congo and is one of the eight virunga volcanoes.
Longterm monitoring of so2 quiescent degassing from. Earthqaukes foretold nyiragongo eruption nyiragongo volcano democratic republic of congo 1. By clicking the download button, you accept the responsibility for using unreleased content including obtaining any clearances required for your use and agree to abide by any restrictions. Facts about mount nyiragongo eruption active volcano congo. Additional shots of lava flow from volcano youtube. In a massive eruption that occurred on january 17, 2002, nyiragongo sent a vast plume of smoke and ash skyward, and three swiflymoving rivers. Nyiragongo is a stratovolcano a steepsloped cone composed of alternating layers of hardened lava, solidified ash, and rocks ejected by previous eruptions.
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. Mount nyiragongo in the democratic republic of congo showing signs of life again, after catastrophic 2002 eruption. The january 17 2002 eruption of nyiragongo volcano started suddenly at 8. 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. 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. A british plane carrying aid for the victims of the mount nyiragongo eruption in the democratic republic of congo has arrived in the region. Mount nyiragongo has laid relatively dormant for almost 15. To the northwest of nyiragongo lies another volcano, murara. 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. One of africas most notable volcanoes, nyiragongo contained an active lava lake in its deep summit crater that drained catastrophically through its outer flanks in 1977.
The 1977 eruption was preceded by the creation of a new small volcanic vent, murara, a short distance away on the. Poland explained that an earlier nyiragongo eruption, in 1977, formed a fracture system that led partway down to the city of goma. The 2002 eruption of nyiragongo volcano constitutes the most outstanding case ever of lava flow in a big town. 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.
Nyiragongos lava lake is found at a maximum elevation of 3250m predisaster, inside a 3465m tall stratovolcano. In fact, until the eruption in 1977 there was a famous lake of lava in the crater of the mountain. The lava emitted in eruptions at nyiragongo is often unusually fluid. The lava lake present in the summit crater of nyiragongo from 1928 to 1977 completely disappeared after the shortlived eruption of january. Homes, schools, churches and businesses were ruined.
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