Skip to main content
Back to map
CompareShow on map

Congo - Kinshasa · Shield volcano

Nyamuragira

Nyamulagira

Type
Shield volcano
Elevation
3058m
Last eruption
2026
Nyamuragira
Photo: MONUSCO Photos · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Shield volcano
Country
Congo - Kinshasa
Region
Eastern Africa / Albertine Rift Volcanic Province
Elevation
3058m
Coordinates
-1.408, 29.200
Last eruption
2026
Tectonic setting
Rift zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Landform
Shield
Major rock type
Trachybasalt / Tephrite basanite

Geological summary

Africa's most active volcano, Nyamulagira (also known as Nyamuragira), is a massive high-potassium basaltic shield about 25 km N of Lake Kivu and 13 km NNW of the steep-sided Nyiragongo volcano.

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

From Wikipedia

Nyamuragira, also known as Nyamulagira, is an active shield volcano in the Virunga Mountains of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, situated about 25 kilometres (16 mi) north of Lake Kivu. The name is derived from Mashi language.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

49 recordedGlossary

Record summary

Confirmed eruptions
48
Uncertain eruptions
1
Span of confirmed record
1550 (±100 yrs) – 2026
Largest confirmed eruption
VEI 3 (1996, the most recent of 8)
Confirmed eruptions since 1900
42
Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions · Use arrow keys to move between bars, Enter to open
1550~1597 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1831~1878 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1878~1924 · 16 eruptions · max VEI 31924~1971 · 10 eruptions · max VEI 31971~2018 · 21 eruptions · max VEI 315501644178418781971

Detailed timeline

  1. 2018VEI 0Observed
    2018-04-14 – 2026-03-16
    Summit caldera
  2. 2016VEI 0Observed
    2016-11-27 – 2017-05-02
    Summit crater
  3. 2014VEI 0Observed
    2014-06-22 – 2016-05-14
    Summit crater
  4. 2011VEI 2Observed
    2011-11-06 – 2012-03-16
    NW flank
  5. 2010VEI 1Observed
    2010-01-02 – 2010-01-29
    Summit caldera and SSE flank
  6. 2006VEI 2Observed
    2006-11-27 – 2006-12-05
    South flank
  7. 2004VEI 2Observed
    2004-05-08 – 2004-05-28
    Summit and NNW flank
  8. 2002VEI 2Observed
    2002-07-25 – 2002-09-16
    Summit caldera, north & south flanks
  9. 2001VEI 2Observed
    2001-02-06 – 2001-04-05
    North and SSE flanks
  10. 2000VEI 2Observed
    2000-01-27 – 2000-02-10
    SE flank (Ngerageze)
  11. 1998VEI 2Observed
    1998-10-17 – 1998-10-25
  12. 1996VEI 3Observed
    1996-12-01 – 1996-12-05
  13. 1994VEI 2Observed
    1994-07-04 – 1994-08-25
    West flank (Kimera) and summit
  14. 1991VEI 3Observed
    1991-09-20 – 1993-02-08
    NE flank 1530 m (Mikombe)
  15. 1989VEI 3Observed
    1989-04-24 – 1989-08-15
    Summit, SE and East flank
  16. 1987VEI 1Observed
    1987-12-30 – 1988-01-04
    North Flank (Gafuranindi)
  17. 1986VEI 2Observed
    1986-07-16 – 1986-08-20
    South flank (near Kitazungurwa)
  18. 1984VEI 2Observed
    1984-02-23 – 1984-03-14
    NW flank (Kivandimwe)
  19. 1981VEI 3Observed
    1981-12-25 – 1982-01-14
    SE flank (Rugarambiro)
  20. 1980VEI 3Observed
    1980-01-30 – 1980-02-24
    North flank (Gasenyi)
  21. 1976VEI 1Observed
    1976-12-23 – 1977-06-15
    SSW flank (Murara and Harakandi)
  22. 1971VEI 3Observed
    1971-03-24 – 1971-05-05
    WNW flank (Rugarama)
  23. 1967VEI 2Observed
    1967-04-23 – 1967-05-09
    North flank (Gakararanga)
  24. 1958VEI 2Observed
    1958-08-07 – 1958-11-21
    North flank (Kitsimbanyi), NNW rift
  25. 1957VEI 0Observed
    1957-12-28 – end unknown
    Summit caldera and SSE fissure zone
  26. 1956VEI 1Observed
    1956-11-17 – 1956-11-18
    Summit caldera and NNW fissure zone
  27. 1954VEI 1Observed
    1954-02-21 – 1954-05-28
    SSE fissure zone (Mihaga)
  28. 1951VEI 1Observed
    1951-07-25 – 1951-07-28
    SW flank (Gituro)
  29. 1951VEI 2Observed
    1951-11-16 – 1952-01-16
    NNW fissure zone (Shabubembe-Ndakaza)
  30. 1948VEI 2Observed
    1948-03-01 – 1948-07-15
    SW flank (Gituro, Muhuboli), N flank
  31. 1938VEI 1Observed
    1938-01-28 – 1940-06-25
    Summit, SE and SW flanks (Tshambene)
  32. 1921VEI 0Observed
    1921-07-02 – 1938-01-17
    Caldera
  33. 1920VEI 0Observed
    1920-07-02 – end unknown
    SSW flank (Lake Kivu)
  34. 1912VEI 3Observed
    1912-12-03 – 1913-04-16
    SW flank (Rumoka), and summit
  35. 1909VEI 1Observed
    1909-05-16 – 1909-05-16
    Summit caldera
  36. 1908VEI ?Observed
    1908-07-02 – end unknown
    Summit caldera
  37. 1907VEI 1Observed
    1907-04-16 – 1907-05-16
    Summit caldera
  38. 1907VEI 3Observed
    1907-11-07 – 1907-12-05
    Summit caldera
  39. 1906VEI 1Method not stated
    1906-07-02 – end unknown
    Summit caldera
  40. 1905VEI 2Observed
    1905-07-22 – 1905-09-25
    East flank (Kanamaharagi)
  41. 1904VEI 2Observed
    1904-04-16 – 1904-05-16
    SW flank (Nahimbi)
  42. 1902VEI 0Observed
    1902-04-22 – end unknown
    SSE fissure zone
  43. 1901VEI 2Observed
    1901-07-02 – end unknown
    East flank (Singiro)
  44. 1899VEI 1Observed
    1899-02-16 – end unknown
    NNW fissure zone
  45. 1896VEI 1Observed
    1896-07-02 – end unknown
  46. 1894VEI 2Observed
    1894-06-16 – end unknown
  47. 1882VEI ?Observed
    1882-07-02 – end unknown
    North flank
  48. 1865VEI ?Observed
    1865-07-02 – end unknown
  49. 1550 (±100 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1550 – end unknown

Nearby volcanoes

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.