Barrier, shield volcano in the north of Kenya
Barrier is a large volcano in Kenya with a gently spreading shape made up of four stacked mountain sections. The surface is covered with smooth, rounded lava flows, and at the top of the youngest section, called Kakorinya, sits a large circular crater with solidified lava formations and hills filling its floor.
The volcano has been active for at least 10,000 years with at least ten eruptions during that time, with the most recent confirmed event in 1921. This long history shows a steady pattern of activity spread across millennia.
The name Barrier refers to how this volcano acts as a natural divide between Lake Turkana and the surrounding terrain. Visitors can see today how the landform shapes the landscape and how the rough volcanic surface tells the story of the place.
The volcano sits in the Rift Valley with accessible rough and rocky terrain that offers good viewpoints. Visitors should prepare for the exposed, windy setting with sparse trees and allow time to explore the lava flows and crater landscape.
The volcano displays active solfatara fields today with steam rising from the ground, showing that heat still moves beneath the surface. These steaming areas on the slopes and inside the crater give the place an active presence despite major eruptions being long past.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
