Nyamuragira, Active shield volcano in Virunga Mountains, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Nyamuragira is a shield volcano in the Virunga Mountains of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, rising 3,058 meters (10,033 feet) above sea level. Its summit crater measures roughly two by 2.3 kilometers (1.2 by 1.4 miles) and is surrounded by walls that reach up to 100 meters (328 feet) in height.
Since 1885, the volcano has experienced more than 40 documented eruptions, with the 1938 event completely draining the lava lake in the summit crater. This activity makes it one of the most frequently erupting volcanoes in Africa.
The name comes from the Bantu language Kinyarwanda and joins the words kuragira nyamu, which refer to herding cattle in the region. Local communities have viewed the mountain as part of their landscape for generations and arrange their settlements according to its presence.
The Observatoire Volcanologique de Goma issues regular reports on seismic activity and gas emissions that provide clues about potential hazards. Visitors should check these monitoring data, as conditions can change quickly.
The 2011 eruption produced a lava column that shot 400 meters (1,312 feet) into the air and was visible far beyond the surrounding area. Three years later, a new lava lake formed with a depth of 500 meters (1,640 feet), the first in 75 years in this crater.
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