Mount Nyiranagongo
Mount Nyiragongo popularly known as “General Nyiragongo,” is a perfect destination “Because
when he comes, everyone runs?”, But What about that?
Mount Nyiragongo is the world’s most active strato volcano with an altitude approximately
3,470 m 11,380 ft in the Virunga Mountains which is linked with the Albertine located in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, roughly 20 km north of the town of Goma and Lake Kivu
and bordered to the west Rwanda.
Its main crater is estimated be two kilometers wide and containing Lava Lake; it of late has two
separate cooled lava benches within the crater walls – one at about 3,175 m (10,417 ft) and a
lower one with roughly 2,975 m (9,760 ft). Nyiragongo’s lava lake was the largest known lava
lake in recent history. Its depth varies considerably; the highest altitude 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). A recent very low altitude of the lava lake was recorded approximately 2,700 m
(8,900 ft). It is interesting and important to note that Mount Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira are
together countable for 40% of Africa’s unforgettable volcanic eruptions.
The volcano partially runs a cross two older volcanoes, Baratu and Shaheru, and surrounded by
hundreds of small volcanic cinder cones from flank eruptions.
In most cases, the lava emitted in eruptions at Nyiragongo is often unusually fluid. Nyiragongo’s
lavas are comprise of melilite nephelinite which is an alkali-rich type of volcanic rock whose
rare chemical composition may be the cause in the volatility of the lavas there
The lava lake activity continued through 2010. As of June 2010, the lake is mostly confined
within a broad, steep-sided cinder cone (roughly 18 m (60 ft) high on the crater floor.
In 1982–1983 and 1994, the lava lake re-occurred covering the summit of the mountain, this
calmed not until January 17 th 2002 when the eruption reoccurred after several months of fumaric
and seisenic activity.
The 13 km crack opened in the south edge of the volcano, flowing in a few hours from 2800 m
to 1550 m altitude and reaching the border of Goma, on the northern shore of Lake Kivu. Lava
came out from three splash cones at the end of the crack and flowed in a stream 200 to 1000 m
wide and up to 2 m deep through Goma. Prior to the incident, the residents of the place had been
caution and approximately 400,000 people relocated from the city across the Rwandan border
into neighboring Gisenyi as the eruption occurred. The Lava covered the runway at Goma
International Airport, leaving the southern two-thirds usable, stretching to Lake Kivu. This
incidence raised panic as members thought the lava might cause gas-saturated waters in the lake
to suddenly rise to the surface, releasing incurably large amounts of carbon dioxide and methane
comparable to the incident at Lake Nyos in Cameroon in 1986.
Accessing Mount Nyiragongo is very simple and safe with a very comfortable road as well as
good vehicles, the journey that starts at the town of Gisenyi in Rwanda lasts for approximately
30minutes into Goma, Congo where the mountain is situated, and you need to cross borders in
order to get to the bottom of the volcano. You have numerous options such as renting a car,
boarding a public means such as a bus. The challenge three is overcrowding and Jam
Hiking
Hiking this iconic Mountain does not need any skill but rather a determined heart as well as a
winning spirit, It take only 5-6 hours to reach the mountains to while crossing the a mazing
vegetation, it starts with a morning briefing at the parks Headquarters at 10 before setting off for
the memorable journey to the summit the 11,382-foot mountain.
Upon reaching the Top, you will gather on top of the mountains edge. Mount Nyiragongo’s lava
lake bubbles a few hundred feet beneath the summit. It seems to cannibalize itself, as pockets of
fire engulf new areas.
Inconclussion, not much is known about how long the volcano has been erupting, but since 1882,
it has erupted at least 34 times, including many periods where activity was continuous for years
at a time, often in the time, but was not scientifically confirmed until 1948. At that time, it was
measured at nearly 120,000 square metres (1,300,000 sq ft. Preceding research and studies
showed that the lake decreased in size, depth, and temperature over time. Book your Trip to
Mount Nyirango and discover the world by yourself.







Comments are closed