MT. NYIRAGONGO

HISTORY

• Location: Democratic Repbulic of Congo on the Virunga Mtns. in Virunga National Park
• Height: 11,385 feet
• Type: Active Stratovolcano composed of hardened lava, ash, and tephra
• How close people live to it: 6 miles south of the volcano in a town called Goma
• Last Eruption: 2005
• The 2002 eruption had a lava flow at 60 miles per hour reching Lake Kivu creating a lava lake. The lava is being confined in the crater for now but will one day overflow into the city.

RELATION TO EARTHQUAKES

• Earthquakes are common
• The volcano has violent eruptions even though the lava can only flow at a speed of about 60 miles per hour
• There is not always a eruption after a earthquake
• The volcano eruption does not always trigger earthquakes
• In 2002, there was 100 earthquakes with a 3.5 magnitude recorded 9 hours after an eruption.

RELATION TO PLATE TECTONICS

• Another volcano like Mt. Nyiragongo is Mt. Tambora in Indonesia on an island
• Mt. Nyiragongo lies near the African Plate Boundary

TRAVEL GUIDE INFORMATION

• The best season to visit Mt. Nyiragongo is in the fall
• During the reccomended season it will be dry but you should always expect some rain
• While visiting this volcano you can take a guided hike to the summmit of the volcano while taking breaks in cabins along the way, they reccomed experience as the steep hills can be tricky for unexperienced climbers to handle.
• Other things you can do while visiting this volcano is to take a walk around the park to see unique animals like Gorillas and Chimps.
• You could also visit Lake Kivu

MORE TRAVEL GUIDE INFORMATION

• Mt Tambora: 8,930 feet, in Indonesia, active subductive done beneath it
• Mt Nyriagongo: 11,380 feet, in Africa, associated with Albertine Rift
• Both: Stratovolcanoes, have a lava lake, killed people when erupting

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