Nyiragongo

see also: Etymology of Nyiragongo

The Nyiragongo ( That which smokes ) is a very active Volcan located in the east of the Democratic republic of Congo (ex-Zaire), in the north of the Lac Kivu, where it dominates the towns of Goma in DRC and of Gisenyi to the Rwanda.

Nyiragongo is a stratovolcano located at the bottom of the Western branch of the rift African is characterized by very fluid, sodic and potassic lava. This lava was responsible for a very particular eruptive activity: a quasi permanent Lake of lava. Today, the crater is presented in the form of a cylindrical well and the bottom is occupied by a Lac of lava 200 m in diameter. In permanent fusion, this lake is animated by sometimes violent fountains of Lave. This regular mixing finds its origin in an important degasification: an enormous gas mixing crowns the volcano and its daily flow ranges between 12.000 and 20.000 tons of sulfur dioxide.

Made famous for Haroun Tazieff into 1958 which made its volcano fetish of it, studied since more than 30 years by Jacques Durieux, Nyiragongo whose last eruption dated January 17th, 2002, is “dangerous” a wonder to be contemplated!

Eruptions

1948 : The 1^er March, a cone (the Gituro ) is formed with 1800 meters of altitude and crack a 6 km length appears. New point exit (the Muhuboli ), important lava flow reaches the lake Kivu in two weeks. It stops on May 18th.

1977 : Following an eruption fissurale on January 10th, a very fluid flood of lava escapes from the semi-slope, emptying all the lake of lava in less than one hour, and causing the death of 600 people. Casting stops with less than one kilometer of the airport of Goma. Following the collapse of the system of well and interior platforms that it contained, the empty lake of lava becomes a new crater of almost 900 m of depth. The lake of lava will reappear only between June and October 1982, and in a fugacious way in 1994 and this until 1995. It is stabilized then to 245 m under the top of the volcano and solidifies again.

2002 : January 17th with 9:30, the volcano fissures. Three faults - two on the slope is and one on the western slope - pour rivers of lava. January 18th, two major castings cross the town of Goma located at 10 kilometers, reducing to nothing 18% of the city but devastating 80% of the economy, leaving there a 60 meters broad furrow after having destroyed 14 villages of the surroundings. The discharge of the lava in the lake Kivu makes fear an human account much more tragic by increase of carbonic gas stored in its funds. One will on the whole count 147 victims for this eruption. Following this activity, the crater crumbles again in new a 760 depth m well. In November 2002, a new lake of lava is established at the bottom of the crater.

Its activity is always in hand.

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