Nyamuragira Volcano

2001/04/11 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Geografia

The radar image of the image, taken from space, shows the crater of the Nyamuragira volcano at the bottom of the image. Purple remains belong to the furnace of previous eruptions.

Nyamuragira is a domed reclining volcano made with simple lava in eastern Congo. The volcanic territory of the Congo is located in the Virunga mountains that border the border between Congo, Uganda and Rwanda. It is known to some as the place where Diann Fossey studied gorillas. Virunga volcanoes are probably the youngest geological structures in Africa and Nyamuragi is the most active volcano in Africa, with 34 eruptions since 1882. Most of the eruptions have created lava flows through the lateral cracks of the volcano and in the exit holes have formed cones of pyroclast and basalt.

Two months ago the Nyamuragira volcano launched thousands of tons of lava and, a few days later, it reacted. Lava from Virunga volcanoes is very fluid and expands rapidly. Fortunately, the lava poured into an area of Virunga National Park, with a small population, and there were no deaths; only the eruptions of 13-12 have caused deaths. However, the damage was important, as the forests of the area were burned and the rich fields of cultivation had to be lost. In addition, just in case, people from various villages had to leave.