Is Nyiragongo an explosive or effusive volcano?
Is Nyiragongo an explosive or effusive volcano?
Congo), January 2002.
How big is the lava lake in Mount Nyiragongo?
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)….
| Mount Nyiragongo | |
|---|---|
| Mount Nyiragongo’s lava lake | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,470 m (11,385 ft) |
| Coordinates | 1°31′09″S 29°15′15″ECoordinates: 1°31′09″S 29°15′15″E |
What type of volcano is Mt Nyiragongo?
stratovolcano
Nyiragongo is a stratovolcano—a steep-sloped cone composed of alternating layers of hardened lava, solidified ash, and rocks ejected by previous eruptions. For five decades, the volcano cradled an active lava lake in its summit crater. The lava lake drained in 1977, causing numerous fatalities.
Why does Mount Nyiragongo exist?
Mount Nyiragongo is part of the Virunga volcanic chain, and owes its existence to the activity of the African Great Rift. The rift is constantly extending and opening.
Why did Mount Nyiragongo erupt?
The eruption of 2002 was caused by a sudden episode of rift opening. Estimates were that 100 people had died and up to hundreds of thousands were forced to flee from the town of Goma and from the villages on the upper volcano flanks.
Why does Mount Nyiragongo erupt?
Eruptions at Nyiragongo generally transpire when the pressure of accumulating magma or an earthquake forces open fissures in the sides of the mountain, leading to the catastrophic draining of the lava lake or the eruption of magma stored deeper down.
How big is Mount Nyiragongo lava lake?
Mount Nyiragongo Lava Lake is the largest lava lake in the world on with a maximum diameter of 700 meters. The size and depth of the lava lake vary because every eruption changes the surroundings. As the level of Nyiragongo Lava Lake is tied into the pressure inside the magmatic system under the volcano,…
Is the Nyiragongo volcano still active?
Technically, the current Mount Nyiragongo Lava Lake activity is still part of the eruption, which started in 2002. Lava terraces on the crater walls mark the levels of previous lava lakes. At the Nyiragongo volcano rim, you can observe the churning lava lake at the bottom of the collapsed crater.
Where did the Nyiragongo lava flow stop?
During 22-23 May the lava flow may have been as wide as 1 km and stopped 1.25 km from the Goma International Airport in the NE part of the city (figures 83, 84, and 85). Figure 81. Map showing the lava flows (yellow) from the opened fissures (red) at Nyiragongo during 22-26 May 2021.
Where is Mount Nyiragongo located?
Mount Nyiragongo is located inside Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, about 20 km north of the town of Goma and Lake Kivu. It is one of the most active volcanoes in Africa, and one of eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains.