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Congo - Kinshasa · Stratovolcano

Mount Nyiragongo

Nyiragongo

Type
Stratovolcano
Elevation
3470m
Last eruption
2026
Mount Nyiragongo
Photo: Cai Tjeenk Willink (Caitjeenk) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
Congo - Kinshasa
Region
Eastern Africa / Albertine Rift Volcanic Province
Elevation
3470m
Coordinates
-1.520, 29.250
Last eruption
2026
Tectonic setting
Rift zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Foidite
Geological summary

The Nyiragongo stratovolcano 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 steep slopes contrast to the low profile of its neighboring shield volcano, Nyamuragira. Benches in the steep-walled, 1.2-km-wide summit crater mark levels of former lava lakes, which have been observed since the late-19th century. Two older stratovolcanoes, Baruta and Shaheru, are partially overlapped by Nyiragongo on the north and south. About 100 cones are located primarily along radial fissures south of Shaheru, east of the summit, and along a NE-SW zone extending as far as Lake Kivu. Many cones are buried by voluminous lava flows that extend long distances down the flanks, which is characterized by the eruption of foiditic rocks. The extremely fluid 1977 lava flows caused many fatalities, as did lava flows that inundated portions of the major city of Goma in January 2002.

From Wikipedia

Mount Nyiragongo is an active stratovolcano with an elevation of 3,470 m (11,385 ft) in the Virunga Mountains associated with the Albertine Rift. It is located inside Virunga National Park, in the North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, about 12 km (7.5 mi) north of the town of Goma and Lake Kivu and just 9.8 km (6.1mi) west of the border with Rwanda. The main crater is about two kilometres (1 mi) wide and usually contains a lava lake. The crater presently has two distinct cooled lava benches within the crater walls – one at about 3,175 m (10,417 ft) and a lower one at about 2,975 m (9,760 ft).

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

20 recordedGlossary
Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions · Use arrow keys to move between bars, Enter to open
1884~1896 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 11896~1908 · 7 eruptions · max VEI 11908~1919 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 11919~1931 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 11967~1978 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 11978~1990 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 11990~2002 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 218841908194319671990

Detailed timeline

  1. 2002VEI 1Observed
    2002-01-17 – 2002-02-03
    South flank (2800-1570 m), summit crater
  2. 2002VEI 2Observed
    2002-05-17 – 2026-03-17
  3. 1994VEI 1Observed
    1994-06-23 – 1996-03-16
  4. 1982VEI 1Observed
    1982-06-21 – 1982-10-17
  5. 1977VEI 1Observed
    1977-01-10 – 1977-01-10
    North, south, and west flanks
  6. 1927VEI 1Observed
    1927-03-16 – 1977-01-10
  7. 1920VEI 1Observed
    1920-07-02 – 1921-07-02
  8. 1918VEI 1Observed
    1918-07-02 – end unknown
  9. 1911VEI 1Observed
    1911-08-16 – 1911-10-16
    Southern pit
  10. 1908VEI ?Method not stated
    1908-12-01 – end unknown
    Southern craters
  11. 1906VEI 1Observed
    1906-07-02 – end unknown
  12. 1905VEI 1Observed
    1905-07-02 – end unknown
  13. 1902VEI 1Observed
    1902-07-02 – end unknown
  14. 1901VEI 1Observed
    1901-07-02 – end unknown
  15. 1900VEI 1Observed
    1900-07-02 – end unknown
  16. 1899VEI 1Observed
    1899-07-02 – end unknown
  17. 1898VEI 1Observed
    1898-07-02 – end unknown
  18. 1894VEI 1Observed
    1894-07-02 – end unknown
  19. 1891VEI ?Method not stated
    1891-07-02 – end unknown
    Volcano Uncertain: probably Nyiragongo
  20. 1884VEI 1Observed
    1884-07-02 – end unknown
    Southern pit

Nearby volcanoes

External links

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