The eragon go volcano is famous for being. Hot lava lake in the crater of nyiragongo volcano in the congo

The African volcano Nyiragongo is located in the Virunga Mountains, 20 km north of Lake Kivu and the city of Goma on its shore, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), more precisely, in the border zone with the Republic of Rwanda, to the west of it.
Albertina Rift passes through this territory - deep depression in the earth's crust, because of which the crust in this place is very thin, Ancient geological processes have not yet ended here, and the consequence of this is the presence of active volcanoes in these places.
Nyiragongo is a stratovolcano, it has the shape of a wide and regular truncated cone and at its base merges with another volcano - Nyamlagira. At the summit there is a well-shaped main crater with a diameter of 2000 m and a depth of 250 m. On the northern and southern slopes of the volcano, two lateral and more ancient secondary craters are visible - Baratu (3100 m) and Shaheru (2800 m).
On the slopes of the volcano there are hundreds of small ash cones formed as a result of lateral eruptions.
In the crater, two cooled lava terraces are clearly distinguished - at an altitude of 2975 and 3175 m.At the bottom of the main crater, splashes of fire lava lake- the most extensive in modern history: its volume is 76 million m 3.
The depth of the lake is unstable - about 600 m. The temperature of the lava reaches 982 ° C, and its bursts rise to a height of 7 to 30 m.
Lava Nyiragongo is characterized by mobility (fluidity). The uniqueness of the volcano is that it is composed mainly of fine-grained crystalline rocks containing more than 60% of feldspathoid minerals with a predominance of light components. Unusually for these places, neighboring Nyamlagira and South Kivu province are composed of minerals with a predominance of alkali spars. And the magma of the volcano has a potassium composition and there is little silica in it. This explains its fluidity: lava flows reach speeds of 100 km / h, which is extremely unusual for stratovolcanoes.
Since 1882, 34 eruptions have been recorded, including periods when the activity of Nyiragongo has not been interrupted for many years, which manifested itself in the form of lava boiling in the crater of the lake. All this makes Nyiragongo one of the most active volcanoes in the world.
The proximity of the volcano to densely populated areas increases the likelihood of catastrophic consequences. In addition, the potential consequences of eruptions can be exacerbated by the unique properties of Nyiragongo volcano - it has steep slopes, along which lava flows rapidly. Lava lakes are not uncommon, there are many of them, for example, on, but they are not typical for stratovolcanoes.
The most notable recent eruptions occurred in 1977 and 2002. In 1977, the walls of the crater collapsed, lava rushed down the slope at a speed of about 100 km / h, and the lake was empty in less than 60 minutes. Lava covered several villages, killing 70 people. During the 2002 eruption, a 13-kilometer crack was formed in the area of ​​the southern slope of the volcano. A lava flow from 200 to 1000 m wide poured into the city of Goma. 400 thousand people were urgently evacuated. Lava flooded the stripes international airport, reached Lake Kivu and stopped. If it combined with water, an explosion would occur and a deadly mixture of carbon dioxide and methane would be thrown into the atmosphere. 147 people suffocated from the toxic fumes and died under the ruins of their houses. 14 thousand buildings in Goma were destroyed, 350 thousand people. lost their homes. This eruption was the most destructive in recent history.
Nyiragongo is not only very active, but also the least studied. Volcanologists do not risk studying it because of the war that has been going on in the east of the DRC and in Rwanda for the last 20 years.
For the people who live near the volcano, it is both a blessing and a curse: the volcanic ash rich in minerals enriches the soil, but the eruptions destroy farms.
The volcano is located in the Virunga National Park and is listed World heritage UNESCO.

general information

An active volcano in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Type: stratovolcano.
Location: Virunga mountains, 20 km north of Lake Kivu.
The largest city: Goma, 377 112 people. (2010).
Secondary craters: Barat (3100 m) and Shaher (2800 m).

Numbers

Height: 3470 m.
Crater diameter: 2000 m.
Crater depth: 250 m.
Lava lake depth: about 600 m.
Maximum lava lake level: 3250 m.
Minimum lava lake level: 2700 m.
Lava temperature: 982 ° C.

Economy

Agriculture: plant growing, cattle breeding.
Cutting down bamboo and precious woods.
Service sector: transport.

Climate and weather

Equatorial, humid.
Average January temperature:+ 20 ° C.
Average temperature in July:+ 21 ° C.
Average annual rainfall: 1700 mm.
Daily temperature drop: 10-15 ° C.
Relative humidity: 77%.

sights

■ Nyiragongo Volcano;
■ Nyamlagira volcano;
■ Lake Kivu;
■ National park Virunga;
■ Gishvati Forest Reservation.

Nyiragongo volcano located in the Virunga National Park in Congo on the border with Rwanda. It is one of the most active volcanoes in Africa, with 34 eruptions recorded since 1882, including many periods when activity has been continuous for many years.

The main crater of the volcano is 250 meters deep and 2 km wide, sometimes a lava lake forms in it. In terms of the amount of lava, the lake of the Nyiragongo volcano is the largest of the lava lakes today. The depth in the lake largely depends on the activity of the volcano. The maximum observed level of lava in the crater reached 3250m.

Lava Nyiragongo is unusually liquid and fluid, similar features are caused by a special chemical composition - it contains very little quartz. Thus, during an eruption, lava flows flowing along the slope of the volcano can reach a speed of 100 km / h.

Between 1894 and 1977, there was an active lava lake in the crater and on January 10, 1977, when the walls of the crater collapsed, a violent eruption occurred. It lasted about an hour and claimed 70 lives, wiping out nearby villages, and although it was impossible to determine the exact number of deaths, according to unofficial estimates, there were about several thousand.

Today, the eruptions of the Nyiragongo volcano are considered unprecedented, because no other volcano in the world has such steeply sloping walls and a lava lake with such a dangerous composition.

Another major eruption occurred in January 2002. However, fortunately, people were warned of the danger. 400,000 people were evacuated. Yet many who had not heard of the impending eruption paid dearly for it. 147 people died during the eruption from suffocation and the effects of an earthquake caused by the activity of the volcano.

Six months later, Nyiragongo erupted again. The volcano remains active to this day, and in June 2012, a team of scientists and intrepid explorers stepped onto the shore of a lava lake that boils deep in the crater of Nyiragongo. These pictures were taken by Oliver Grunewald during an expedition to the crater lake of Nyiragongo.

Mount Nyiragongo is located in National park Virunga, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 20 kilometers north of the city of Goma and Lake Kivu. It is one of the most active volcanoes in Africa and one of eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains. The main crater is about two kilometers wide, and in its very center there is often a lake of hot lava, which will be discussed in this article.

This lava lake has already been mentioned in the selection of landscapes of erupting lava, but now you will find a more detailed report and many photos. For a long time, the hot lake Nyiragongo was the largest in the world. Its depth varies depending on the degree of activity of the volcano - the maximum increase in the level of lava was recorded at an altitude of 3250 meters during the eruption in January 1977. Then the depth of the lake reached 600 meters, and now the lava is at around 2,700 meters.

It is not known for certain how long the volcano continues to erupt, but 34 violent eruptions have been recorded since 1882. The activity is constantly observed here, as evidenced by the lake of incandescent lava

The lava during the Nyiragongo eruption is often very unusually liquid. Perhaps the reason for this is a volcanic rock rich in alkali with a rare chemical composition. Due to its extremely fluidity, lava flows during an eruption can reach speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour, which exceeds the speed of water flow with a similar flow

Between 1894 and 1977, the crater contained a permanent and extremely active lake of lava. On January 10, 1977, the walls of the crater broke and hot streams hit the villages below, killing large numbers of people. All of the above features make Nyiragongo volcano unique and one of the most dangerous in the world, and also contains a lake of hot liquid lava

Another strong eruption took place here relatively recently - on January 17, 2002. Lava flows spread over an area of ​​200-1000 meters, and their height was 2 meters. A warning was issued in time, and 400,000 people were evacuated from the potential affected area. Despite this, 147 people still died, suffered from asphyxiation by carbon dioxide and collapsing buildings.

Six months after the start of the 2002 eruption, the volcano erupted again. Activity continues to this day, but is limited to a crater where a new lake formed about 250 meters below the 1994 lava lake level











I suggest you also admire the photos

Why we went to the volcano and how we got to the beginning of the ascent, I have already told.
It remains to say a few words about the volcano itself and quickly climb up.

Nyiragongo is a volcano in the Virunga Mountains. It is located on the Congolese territory bordering Rwanda.
The main crater of the volcano is 200 meters deep and 2 kilometers wide; it contains a lake of seething lava, which in last years is constantly active and does not fade.
It is believed to be the largest lava lake on our planet.
Nyiragongo's lava is unusually liquid and fluid. Such features are caused by a special chemical composition - it contains very little quartz. Thus, during an eruption, lava flows flowing along the slope of the volcano can reach speeds of 100 km / h.

Due to the turbulent situation in the region, all those wishing to climb the volcano are accompanied by armed rangers.
These are the beauties.

For our large group (as I wrote earlier, there were 20 people who wanted to climb that day) we were given three rangers with three guns.
Therefore, our multinational group did not have to worry about their safety.

One ranger walked in front, the second in the middle, the third covered the rear.

After listening to instructions and wishes Bon Voyage we have moved on this very path.

The path itself is not very difficult. However, I’ll write to whom and about this. But at least anyone can overcome it.

It takes 5-6 hours, 8 kilometers, and the climb is 1500 meters.
Along the way there are 4 places with benches for rest.

And here, almost at the very beginning of the journey, one unpleasant feature of organized walks on this volcano became clear.

Seeing three escorts (plus porters and cooks, the most advanced of whom acted as assistants), we happily decided that now the group would split up according to their strengths and interests.

Moreover, the forces were very different. And we had only one interest - to come before everyone else and while the people did not appreciate how much it was possible to descend into the crater.

When we saw three armed escorts and a crowd of assistants, we somehow didn’t think about how to solve the issue of giving a small bribe.
Therefore, I wanted to study this issue without a crowd of people, without attracting special attention.

But alas. The slowest participant in our ascent was put forward. And in response to my requests to provide us with one accompanying person, the main guide said that we would definitely do it, but only after three stops. Before that, everyone needs to stick together because a meeting with robbers is possible.

And we slowly puffed up.

Brave porters were at the rear of our cavalcade. Take a look at our lovely trolley suitcase. I can imagine what the person carrying it was thinking.

Next to me were the guys who were discussing races in the mountains. So I stuck to them and, like a radio, listened to the trainings of my foreign colleagues.
Then we met a German who walks in the mountains, was on McKinley. He proudly showed me his sticks of the company of the same name. To which I replied that there is no such mountain now :)

Sasha said in surprise:
- Wow, he knows both English and French.
“And I also know a little Russian,” he immediately replied modestly.
Then it turned out that he knows in total either 10 or more languages.

In general, it was fun and pleasant for us to walk.

The rest was even more pleasant. On vacation, the chef of each group gave out something tasty to his wards. Now banana, now nuts.

Everything would be fine, but the leaden clouds on the horizon, which promised to turn into rain, were very embarrassing. Therefore, I really wanted to get there as quickly as possible to get wet less. But it couldn't be faster.

The rain soon began to fall. It got very wet. And with the climb it is also cold.
Well, I hoped that as usual - while you walk, it is not cold. And upstairs already put on dry warm clothes.
Alas, with "while you go" it did not work out very well.

Therefore, I whined most of all and constantly asked when it would be possible to split up and where the robbers were.
There were no robbers, so after three hours those wishing to go faster were finally allowed to fulfill their wishes.

Life has improved. The road has become more scenic. Finally managed to warm up, and the rain almost stopped.

The slopes of Nyiragongo are planted with my favorite senesia - funny plants that also grow on Kilimanjaro. What do they insist that they are endemic.

Meanwhile, the slope became steeper and steeper. And it was no longer so easy to walk.

From time to time I had to look very carefully where to put my foot.

But nevertheless, not even five hours had passed, and we had already reached the house, from which a small passage remained to the top of the crater.

The trek was small, but along a very steep slope. Those who could not go further could be carried on a stretcher.
By the way, from the very beginning they said that those who wish can get it from the very bottom for only 300 dollars.
This is the service.

From this house, the roofs of our houses, to which we were striving, were already visible.

It remains to carefully climb up the hill, not forgetting to admire the views.

The houses are getting closer. They are made of iron. Inside, there is room for exactly two mattresses and a little free space on the sides for things. The mattresses are good, upholstered with leatherette. Everything is clean and tidy. But it's very cold.

Smart people, of course, went right away to occupy the houses and change their clothes.
But is it for this that we have passed half the world.
So whoever goes where, and we go to the crater.

And there...
Here it is - boiling, gurgling.

True, at first it was very cloudy and not very visible. Therefore, having checked in on the crater, with a clear conscience, we went to look for a free house and warm ourselves, so that later in the evening, when everything was stretched out and visibility became much better, to enjoy the spectacle to the fullest.

Well, and see how to go down there, of course. We did not abandon this idea, despite all the difficulties. And a suitcase full of ropes and equipment stood in the middle of the camp and waited in the wings.

Well, in conclusion - about the complexity of the ascent.
My opinion is very subjective. But fortunately, almost all the participants in our ascent were not too lazy and wrote their impressions, which Misha korostelev collected in my magazine.

Well, I'll carry it off. It's not just about lifting. There is also about overcoming oneself and all sorts of amazing discoveries, for the sake of which we are flying to the ends of the earth.

Misha
As for the difficulty of the climb. This is definitely not an easy walk, but it is not a difficult ascent either. It is difficult for someone, very difficult for someone, for someone it is a real test of his willpower. There is no turning back, only forward. I am firmly convinced that every healthy, but even absolutely not athletic person can climb.
It is important to have good shoes, dry clothes in case of rain, and a warm sleeping bag.

Olya K:
"I and my son climbed for almost 5.5 hours. 8 kilometers. It was hard for me. Rest because of my condition, but this is the case when there is no way back - only forward. Half of the way we walked in tropical rain. So this is not just a walk.
the next day the descent is almost 4 hours "

Yana:
"To begin with, for the unprepared and inexperienced climbing mountains is a very difficult ordeal. A quarter of the way runs through the jungle, the path in which is very washed out if it rains (now it is the rainy season) - as a result, wet feet and mud up to the knees.
The next two fourth paths are steeply upward on crumbling lava stones. The last part of the path is along very steep rocks, about 45 degrees upward, which become very slippery in rainy conditions both uphill and especially downhill.
About half the way passed under the downpour, we were completely soaked. And if we began to climb at a temperature of about +20, then at the top at night it was no more than +3 - no fires were made, it was only possible to warm up from coals.
The fastest ones reached it in 5 hours, that is, this is the minimum - the maximum depends only on the physical capabilities of tourists.
In our case, it was impossible not to get there, although there were such thoughts))
The fact is that there was nowhere to go down - there was no accommodation for the unsuccessful below, a car with things on the other side of the border, there were of course no hotels in the nearest village, the population was not particularly friendly (rather the opposite) - even along the way, the group was guarded by three rangers with machine guns from local robbers.
Therefore - dirty, damp, tired, soaked through - but they had to go.
So this is a really hard climb with no chance to change your mind - not just a fun 4 hour hike. You need special clothing, footwear, attitude and fortitude. It would be nice to have physical training)) "

Kate:
"Yes, it was hard. I have never climbed, and this path is not a walk, but an expedition. This should be taken into account for those who prefer easy tracking - this is not it at all. Yes, you got wet, frozen, tired, there may be consequences for health is small in the form of a cold, dislocation or droning legs) and on the way 20 times you ask yourself what kind of devil I am doing here voluntarily. When you sit with tea by the coals at the top, hiding in the house from the wind, or watch the lava splashing in the crater, remember the ascent, especially on the way back, and do not understand how you even managed to get there. all the weight that piles along the way, you feel strong, free, and damn happy, so the game is worth the candle if someone wants to test and strengthen their will (from the inexperienced, I mean). just walk along a flat path e in the forest - then, of course, not worth it "

Olya Rumyantseva (olly_ru):
"My opinion will be, so to speak, a professional on vacation :)
About 45 degrees rocks - Yana, of course, exaggerated. There will be no 30 degrees on the last part of the slope, and this is not a rock, but a rather unpleasant trail with slippery stones.
In all other respects, perhaps I agree. Trekking cannot be called easy, but almost anyone can really go through it, even those who have not noticed such feats before. In terms of distance, it is only 8 kilometers.
But you definitely need good clothes more importantly - good shoes, trekking poles. And a lot of dry and warm clothes are required to completely change upstairs. Also, spare shoes do not hurt, so as not to walk upstairs in wet boots, since even the best boots get wet when walking on wet mud for a long time.
For the first three hours, the group walks at the pace of the slowest participant. So even if you walk fast, then stock up on warm clothes and waterproof capes (it was my mistake, I hoped that if we had 3 guides, they would let us split up, we could walk at our own pace and it would be warm).
At what it will be unclear who will be in the group before the start of the ascent, they unite everyone who goes to the volcano that day. We were not very lucky, as many as 20 people were walking. The first three hours walked in one crowd. Therefore, it turned out to be five hours. So it would be possible to pass 4 hours for sure. But you need to rely on clothes for the saddest option.
And it is also imperative to pack all things in waterproof bags and do not forget a warm sleeping bag.
Well, in any case, remember that an unforgettable sight awaits you upstairs, for which it is worth a little suffering. "

Vania:
“Tracking was very likely not difficult, as Olga Rumyantseva says. But it seemed extremely difficult to me. The fact is that I lead an extremely inactive lifestyle: work nearby, a car nearby, sports zero. Therefore, I was very tired after two hours of walking. (to the second stop) I was so tired that (due to the lack of experience and unsportsmanlike behavior in life) I thought that I would definitely not climb the top. However, thanks to Yana Selezneva (and the wish she made), with whom we were the last to teleport. Thanks to her support and the fact that I was not alone at the end, I found the strength to go further - forward and upward.
When I finally saw the last halt and the people at it, I realized that we were not so far behind the other Mzungu. Behind this halt there was a very steep (for me) slope, it seemed to me unreal, but people were cheerfully stomping on it and the summit did not seem so unattainable anymore.
In general, in the end, I was the last to climb, except for the porter and the guide with a gun.
For me, the slope of Nyrogongo was proof that I can do much more than I could previously imagine. This serious discovery allows me to take a broader look at the possibilities, from which I may be retreating, when I just have to stomp and stomp, I will do everything. I am very happy and pleased with myself that I climbed this volcano, it revealed something about me that I did not know about myself.
Everything and everything was written correctly about the equipment. I was poorly equipped, at least my boots did not fail and I didn’t squelch my socks for 6 hours. The rain took me by surprise: the raincoat was short and does not let out moisture. As a result, there is a bathhouse under it, and from it all the rain flows down onto the jeans, which in the end were right through.
Thank you to everyone who traveled with me, I apologize to those whom I threw off the pace. Mikhail Korostelev and TeamTrip - thanks for the organization, I myself would never have been able to drive myself out of my comfort zone. One can feel the rise of spirit and strength, the understanding of the wrong way of life pushes for changes. I hope that all this will not disappear in Moscow with its routine and I will nevertheless change something in the current lifestyle.
I will definitely go to the next trekking, but later and definitely much better prepared and equipped. "

And again Katya:
Life is made up of many things. From the choices you make, from the minutes that take shape in Time, memories, casual acquaintances, changing plans and trials in which you will recognize yourself anew. And sensations, of course. This is the feeling when you stand on the edge of a volcano crater, looking at the seething lava. Cold from the piercing wind, warm from a mug with hot tea in hand, tired from 6 hours difficult climb to a volcano 3500 meters high, delighted with everything that happens around. To reach - done, for the first time with a sinking heart to look into the fiery bowels of the earth - done. But that's not all, because the day before the volcano is another adventure, an amazing acquaintance with the mountain gorillas of Uganda. When these powerful, plush, a little lazy animals are a meter away from you, and so you want to run your fingers into this wool. And even if it is not easy to get to them, through the jungle, blurred paths, but every breath in their company is worth reaching. And even when the male - the head of the family - menacingly steps on you with a roar, hinting that he also has personal space and should not violate it - it's not scary, and you immediately know what to do - just respect the boundaries. To pay tribute to nature - to communicate with this endangered species, because there are only about 700 of them left on the planet. Overcome yourself by climbing the Nyiragongo volcano in the Congo - and realize that you can much more than you thought, and feel this feeling of freedom and delight at the top. This is life, this is where it is. And with this awareness, it is not so difficult to enter a new stage of life, knowing that you are something more than you are.

In June 2010, several courageous scientists and researchers came to the shores of the lake of boiling lava - in the heart of the crater of the Nyiragongo volcano, located in the center of the African Great Lakes region. From childhood, researchers dreamed of getting to the shore of big lake lavas all over the world, mesmerized by the documentary "Explosions of the Devil", filmed by Harun Taziff back in the 60s. It was this film that for the first time gave the public the opportunity to look at the fiery core of the Nyiragongo crater. Photographer Olivier Grunwald was one meter away from this lake, and now we have a unique opportunity to see the molten substance.

The volcano erupted in 1977 and 2002, completely destroying most of the city of Goma in the Congo.

Climber and veteran of the Nyiragongo hikes Jacques Barthelemy uses a rope to lower equipment to the second level.

Night. The camp is illuminated by a lava lake.

This is a view from the edge of the volcano, 3,470 meters (11,380 feet) above sea level. At a depth of about 400 meters (1,300 feet) sits a lava lake - one of the many wonders of the African continent.

Volcanic gases over the main camp. Members of the expedition often had to sleep wearing gas masks.

Measuring the size of a lava lake with a laser telemeter.

With this tube, volcanologist Dario Tedesco takes gas samples to study volcanic activity.
The hot gas is condensed in a special small container. Scientists believe that this is a vital operation that can be useful in predicting future volcanic eruptions.

The aim of the expedition is to reach the edge of the lava lake. Previously, no one succeeded.

The members of the expedition communicate by radio and transmit data on the activity of the lava and the direction of movement of gases.

The challenge for climbers is also to find the best way descent.

Pierre-Yves Bourges collects gas at the bottom of the crater. The samples will be examined by Dario Tedesco, who was recently appointed head of the UN's Natural Risk Research Unit.

Explosion of gas bubbles on the surface of a lava lake.

The permanent lava lake at Nyiragongo Volcano is the largest in the world. Experts estimate that it contains about 8 million cubic meters (282 million cubic feet) of lava. In 1977 and 2002, a lake of lava rose to the very edge of the crater, and lava destroyed much of the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Frank Pote approaches the lava. For such a walk, the wind must blow at his back, taking away the heat. He is constantly informed by radio about changes in the direction of the wind.

Mark Kallet is the first of the crew to reach the edge of the lake.

Olivier Grunwald prepares his photographic equipment for shooting to protect it from temperatures that can reach 1,300 degrees.

Approaching 282 million cubic feet (8 million cubic meters) of lava is impossible without good protection.

In such a suit with limited visibility, Olivier Grunwald is told by radio how to go and where to put his feet.

A close-up of a lava lake is the first shot. Photographer Olivier Grunwald: “I was so shocked by the sight of the lava surface that I stopped feeling time and heat, I just took pictures and took pictures. Suddenly on the radio I was informed that it was time to return, the activity of lava manifested itself dangerously close to me?

The main risk was the frequent flooding of the lake with lava. The members of the expedition from the second level warned their colleagues by radio about the threat of lava movement.

At dawn, the light becomes stunningly beautiful, but gases from the lava can completely envelop the bottom of the crater in a matter of seconds.

There was an overflow in the early night. Year after year, lava rises higher and higher along the walls of the crater, until it spills over it and erupts. The purpose of the expedition is to collect information to enable volcanologists to predict such events and prevent tragedies.

Gas bubbles explode on the surface of the lake. The lake is constantly worried due to the movement of the earth's crust.

The lava lake often splashed onto the shores, but this did not stop the members of the expedition.

Volcano Nyiragongo is considered the most active of the eight volcanoes in the world that form the Virunga mountain range.

At the beginning of the descent to the second level, falling stones pose the greatest danger. The gases also often blind climbers.

The members of the expedition had to lug around 600 kilograms (1,300 lb) of equipment, as well as a supply of food and water sufficient for two days. Their main camp was 120 meters (400 feet) above the lava lake.

Before this expedition, its participants had to go through 4 months of training.