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Tanzania · Stratovolcano

Ol Doinyo Lengai

Lengai, Ol Doinyo

Type
Stratovolcano
Elevation
2962m
Last eruption
2026
Ol Doinyo Lengai
Photo: Clem23 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
Tanzania
Region
Eastern Africa / Kenyan Rift Volcanic Province
Elevation
2962m
Coordinates
-2.764, 35.914
Last eruption
2026
Tectonic setting
Rift zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Foidite

Geological summary

The symmetrical Ol Doinyo Lengai is the only volcano where the eruption of carbonatite tephras and lavas has been observed.

Excerpt from the Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution · Read the full summary on GVP →

From Wikipedia

Ol Doinyo Lengai is an active stratovolcano in northern Tanzania. It consists of a volcanic cone with two craters, the northern of which has erupted during historical time. Uniquely for volcanoes on Earth, it has erupted natrocarbonatite, an unusually low temperature and highly fluid type of magma. Eruptions in 2007–2008 affected the surrounding region.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

27 recordedGlossary

Record summary

Confirmed eruptions
26
Uncertain eruptions
1
Span of confirmed record
1550 BCE (±1500 yrs) – 2026
Largest confirmed eruption
VEI 3 (2007, the most recent of 5)
Confirmed eruptions since 1900
20
Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions · Use arrow keys to move between bars, Enter to open
1550 BCE~1352 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?163 BCE~35 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?630~828 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1224~1423 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1819~2017 · 23 eruptions · max VEI 31550 BCE757 BCE23410261819

Detailed timeline

  1. 2017VEI 0Observed
    2017-04-09 – 2026-03-31
    North Crater
  2. 2016VEI 0Observed
    2016-09-21 – 2016-10-13
    North Crater
  3. 2015VEI 0Observed
    2015-06-20 – 2015-08-24
    North Crater
  4. 2011VEI 0Observed
    2011-06-22 – 2014-07-15
    North Crater
  5. 2007VEI 3Observed
    2007-06-16 – 2010-10-09
    North Crater
  6. 1994VEI 1Observed
    1994-09-18 – 2006-07-16
    North Crater
  7. 1983VEI 2Observed
    1983-01-01 – 1993-09-24
    North Crater
  8. 1969VEI ?Method not stated
    1969-07-16 – end unknown
  9. 1967VEI 3Observed
    1967-07-08 – 1967-09-04
    North Crater
  10. 1960VEI 3Observed
    1960-03-16 – 1966-11-28
    North Crater
  11. 1958VEI 1Observed
    1958-02-06 – end unknown
    North Crater
  12. 1955VEI 2Observed
    1955-01-19 – 1955-01-20
    North Crater
  13. 1954VEI 2Observed
    1954-07-26 – 1954-09-16
    North Crater
  14. 1940VEI 3Observed
    1940-07-24 – 1941-02-16
    North Crater
  15. 1926VEI 2Observed
    1926-07-02 – end unknown
    North Crater
  16. 1921VEI 2Observed
    1921-02-16 – end unknown
    North Crater
  17. 1916VEI 3Observed
    1916-12-01 – 1917-06-16
    North Crater
  18. 1914VEI 0Observed
    1914-08-15 – 1915-07-02
    North Crater
  19. 1913VEI 0Observed
    1913-07-02 – end unknown
  20. 1907 (±3 yrs)VEI 0Observed
    1907-07-02 – 1910-08-04
    North Crater
  21. 1904VEI 0Observed
    1904-07-02 – end unknown
    North Crater
  22. 1882VEI 2Observed
    1882-07-02 – 1883-07-02
    North Crater
  23. 1880VEI 2Observed
    1880-12-16 – end unknown
    North Crater
  24. 1350VEI ?Geological estimate
    1350 – end unknown
  25. 700VEI ?Geological estimate
    700 – end unknown
  26. 50 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    50 BCE – end unknown
  27. 1550 BCE (±1500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1550 BCE – end unknown

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External links

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