*** As a last piece of advice I would like to add that many people book this hike through a Ugandan or Rwandan tour operator as part of a larger package. There are only a couple of places on earth where one can walk to the crater rim of a volcano and get a glimpse of what churns beneath the crust of. Lava lakes provide a direct observation window into processes which usually remain hidden, such as magma convection and outgassing dynamics. The most recent activity at Nyiragongo began in June of 1994. It aroused my interest as it features the world’s largest lava lake. The Nyiragongo trek begins from the bottom of the volcano in Goma. This 2 days Mount Nyiragongo hiking tour takes you to observe a boiling lava lake in Africa’s oldest national park. In my group there were people ranging from the svelte to the obese and others who are seasoned athletes to those who are more sedentary and yet others who normally have trouble with altitude and rapid ascents. The Nyiragongo volcano is 3,470 metres high and one of the few mountains with molten lava at the summit. park officials, the security, the knowledgable rangers, the dedication of the porters, the stunning views of the boiling lava at the crater rim....you just haveto be there to grasp the wonder of Nyiragongo. The thing to remember is that there are 3 factors in this problem: 1. Had one item from one location been missing I would have questioned myself but several items from several locations including the exterior and interior pouches of my bags were missing. Nyiragongo's lava lake is found at a maximum elevation of 3250m (pre-disaster), inside a 3465m tall stratovolcano; the lava lake has an estimated depth of 600m and contains one of the most fluid lavas on Earth. In a larger context the missing items amount to nothing more than trinkets that I can replace for a couple of hundred dollars. Wonderful Trip!" The lava lake’s depth varies at times as a result of changes in volcanic eruptions. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Sometimes you gotta risk a little, to get a little more back. Prepping for descent, descending and departing can be a hurried and distracting affair. Especially given the fact that I was slow to do these difficult ones - as our guide told us -we can, we would never have made it to the top and experienced the amazing feeling of accomplishment without the Ultimate Wild Safaris team. Not to forget, our dinner and breakfast done by our chef John louie was delicious! As part of a five-hour hike you can admire lava spurting into the air, as well as take in vistas that are more impressive than Mount Kilimanjaro. It is definitely worthy of the title. You could inquire with your tour agent or the Virunga office if this is a concern. After mount Nyiragongo hiking adventures you will also enjoy a short and relaxing visit to the idyllic shores of Lake Kivu. You never know what Mother Nature is going to give you. Mount Nyiragongo is one of the world’s greatest wonders, an active strato volcano situated in Eastern Congo with magnificent views of bubbling lava observed at a safe distance. Hazards related to these lava lakes, such as at Ambrym, Vanuatu, or Kilauea, Hawai`i, tend to be hazards from eruptive activity, such as ejection of materials (bombs, ash, etc. Mount Nyiragongo Lava Lake is the largest lava lake in the world on with a maximum diameter of 700 meters. Sometimes you gotta risk a little, to get a little more back. Staying overnight was fun, the opportunity to view the caldera at night was worth it and mitigates the risk of the weather closing in which didn’t happen on my trip. All ashore for easy trips straight from port, Flexible itineraries and personal experiences, Sample the local scene with in-the-know guides, Expert-led shopping trips and fashion tours. I am a constant traveller and habitually pack certain items in specific locations for ease of access. Guide to Nyiragongo Crater, Hikes, Where to stay, trip guide and so much more. Getting to Mount Nyiragongo Volcano, the largest Active lava lake in the World . On the 10th of January, 1977, the crater wall holding the lava lake ruptured. Lifetime Membership for 1200+ existing courses and 6+ Premium E-degrees. For a cool account of National Geographic visiting Nyiragongo's lava lake and trying to study it, check here. It is possible but not recommended. A maximum elevation of the Lava Lake was recorded at about 3,250 m (10,660 ft) prior to the January 1977 eruption – a Lake depth of about 600 m (2,000 ft). However, the maximum elevation was recorded at about 3250 meters in January 1977 when the volcano was heavily erupted. There are only a couple of places on earth where one can walk to the crater rim of a volcano and get a glimpse of what churns beneath the crust of our planet. The hike to see Mount Nyiragongo’s lava lake is what many refer to as a ‘bucket list’ trip. During certain lava flow eruptions in Hawai`i, residents have been able to outwalk an oncoming lava flow*. As we packed our bags after breakfast and spoke about what lay in wait for us, I struggled to calm the butterflies in my stomach. My guide on both my trips to Eastern DRC and Rwanda was Emmanuel, who did a stellar job organizing everything for me and generally smoothing my path. From the first minute to the last, it was the amazing crew that made our trip so memorable. Mount Nyiragongo, active volcano in the Virunga Mountains of east-central Africa. the Lava lake and the mini volcano-its like a poem. I came across Virunga National Park where you can do things like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee walks, and climb Mount Nyiragongo to see the world’s largest lava lake. In 2002, the last time Nyiragongo volcano erupted, lava raced down its flanks into the crowded city of Goma, on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. Twice in recent history, Nyiragongo has had two devastating volcanic eruptions, the first related to the lava lake, while the second from a deadly eruption off the flank of the volcano. 100 people died, mostly from poisonous gas and becoming trapped in lava. Left: Lava lake at Ambrym, Vanuatu. There is only one conclusion to be drawn. Mount Nyiragongo, located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, erupted on January 17, 2002, ejecting a large cloud of smoke and ash high into the sky and spewing lava down three sides of the volcano. (From https://nycnews.net). Nyiragongo's lava lake has at times been the most voluminous known lava lake in recent history. For more information on Nyiragongo, check here. It seems to cannibalize itself, as pockets of fire engulf new areas. Unfortunately, I have to report to my fellow travellers that while my bags were in the hands of these porters several of my personal belongings went missing. In January 2002, fast-flowing basalt lava, (1,000 kilometres wide) poured out of Mount Nyiragongo and into the city of Goma. Twice in recent history, Nyiragongo has had two devastating volcanic eruptions, the first related to the lava lake, while the second from a deadly eruption off the flank of the volcano. Nyiragongo’s Lava Lake has at times been the most voluminous known Lava Lake in recent history. Usually the focus of very pretty photographs or extremely cool eruption videos, the dangers that lava lakes pose is not often talked about. How hot or cool you usually feel while active or at rest combined with the fact that to a point your pace is going to be set by the guides and/or the slowest climber translates to the necessity of having a lightweight clothing kit that covers the warm, moist hike to frequent downpours of rain and the potentially frigid rim. This time the silver-back stayed the whole time. It can be a little difficult, but it is not a challenge that requires extreme physical fitness or a herculean effort. A thick fog rolls over the crater, leaving only a … For the rim I planned to spend a lot of time outside, so I also brought a light, compressible down jacket, insulated winter pants and a hat and gloves. As we packed our bags after breakfast and spoke about what lay in wait for us, I struggled to calm the butterflies in my stomach. My recommendation to all is to either take the time to do a proper inventory of your goods before getting on your vehicle to depart and/or bring small locks or zip ties to secure your bags closed if your personal items are going to be in the possession of the porters. TREKKING MOUNT NYIRAGONGO VOLCANO IN VIRUNGA PARK DR.CONGO. It is located inside Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, about 20 km north of the town of Goma and Lake Kivu and just west of the border with Rwanda. I came across Virunga National Park where you can do things like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee walks, and climb Mount Nyiragongo to see the world’s largest lava lake. The lava found in Nyiragongo's lava lake, however, is different, as it is much less viscouc, of highly alkaline composition, and is believed to be fed by a plume under the volcano. Video above: A look at Nyiragongo's lava lake. Mount Nyiragongo is raised to an elevation of about 3,470m that is 11,380 feet 20 kilometers from the town of Goma in the east of Congo and Lake Kivu that is shared by Rwanda and Congo. Within the last four decades, Mount Nyiragongo’s lava lake has twice (1977 and 2002) drained catastrophically through its southern flank [Demant et al., 1994; … Mount Nyiragongo has erupted twice in living memory: in 1977 and most recently in 2002. In comparison with these hazards, a lava flow generally moves much slower, on the order of 1 to 10 km/hr. The size and depth of the lava lake vary because every eruption changes the surroundings. This lava, as fluid as it may be, is inside the volcano in the lava lake. Today we will look at another type of volcanic related lake: the lava lake. It is definitely worthy of the title. 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