Mount Nyiragongo

Mount Nyiragongo is an active stratovolcano in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its summit crater has hosted a persistent lava lake, and eruptions have threatened nearby Goma.

Lava lake: A persistent pool of molten rock within a volcanic crater or vent. Nyiragongo’s summit crater has held one of the world’s most persistent lava lakes.
1977 eruption of Mount Nyiragongo: A catastrophic 1977 eruption that drained Nyiragongo’s lava lake and sent fast lava flows down its flanks. The sudden lake drainage demonstrated the danger of exceptionally fast-moving lava.
Volcanic monitoring: The observation of seismic, gas, thermal, and ground-deformation changes to assess volcanic activity. Monitoring Nyiragongo helps detect changes that may precede an eruption.
Virunga Mountains: A volcanic mountain range along the borders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Nyiragongo is one of the active volcanoes in this range.
Volcanic disaster: A volcanic event that causes severe harm to people, infrastructure, or livelihoods. Nyiragongo’s eruptions become disasters when lava reaches exposed communities.
Carbonatite: An igneous rock composed of more than 50 percent carbonate minerals. Nyiragongo’s unusual magma system includes carbonatite components alongside silicate magma.
2002 eruption of Mount Nyiragongo: An eruption that sent lava through Goma, destroying parts of the city and displacing hundreds of thousands of people. It made the volcano’s urban risk visible on a devastating scale.
Goma Volcano Observatory: A scientific institution responsible for monitoring volcanoes in the Virunga region. Its work has focused on tracking Nyiragongo and communicating hazards to nearby communities.
Mount Nyamuragira: An active shield volcano northwest of Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a nearby, frequently erupting volcano within the same volcanic region.
Disaster displacement: The forced movement of people from their homes because of a disaster or its threat. Eruptions and evacuation orders have displaced residents of Goma.

Linked from 1 page