Mount Nyiragongo, Active stratovolcano in Virunga Mountains, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mount Nyiragongo is a stratovolcano made of feldspathoid that rises 3470 meters (11385 feet) above sea level in the Virunga Mountains of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, featuring a wide crater at its peak. The crater holds a permanent lava lake whose surface glows red and whose activity fluctuates depending on the level of molten rock inside.
The volcano has erupted several times since the 19th century, with the event in 2002 opening fissures along its southern flank that released fast-moving lava toward Goma. That flow destroyed neighborhoods and forced hundreds of thousands of people to leave the area temporarily.
The name comes from local tradition and refers to the mountain's role in the stories told by communities around the eastern shore of Lake Kivu. Visitors often hear guides mention how the volcano shapes daily life and agricultural patterns in nearby villages.
The climb passes through Virunga National Park and requires travelers to join a guided group that sets out in the morning for a several-hour ascent. Overnight shelters near the crater rim allow hikers to rest and watch the glow of the lava after sunset.
The lava flows down the slope at speeds rarely seen elsewhere, sometimes reaching 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour because of its low silica content. This speed makes the molten rock move much faster than flows from most other known volcanoes.
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