Nyamuragira facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nyamuragira |
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Nyamuragira (left) and Nyiragongo (right). Vertical scale exaggerated (1.5×).
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,058 m (10,033 ft) |
| Prominence | 784 m (2,572 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Nyamuragira
Location in Democratic Republic of the Congo
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| Location | Nord-Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Parent range | Virunga Mountains |
| Geology | |
| Formed by | Volcanism along the Albertine Rift |
| Mountain type | Shield volcano |
| Last eruption | September 10, 2024 (ongoing as of February 2026[update]) |
Nyamuragira, also called Nyamulagira, is a very active shield volcano. It is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This volcano is part of the Virunga Mountains. It sits about 25 kilometers north of Lake Kivu. Its name comes from the Shi language.
Nyamuragira is known as one of Africa's most active volcanoes. It has erupted over 40 times since 1885. Sometimes, lava comes from the top of the volcano. Other times, it erupts from its sides. These side eruptions can create smaller, temporary volcanoes. For example, Murara was a small volcano that appeared from late 1976 to 1977.
Recent eruptions happened on January 2, 2010, November 8, 2011, and May 23, 2021.
Contents
Exploring Nyamuragira Volcano
Where Nyamuragira is Located
Nyamuragira is an active volcano. It is found near the city of Goma. This city is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The volcano is about 25 kilometers north of Lake Kivu. It is in the Nord-Kivu Province. Nyamuragira is also 13 kilometers north-north-west of Mount Nyiragongo. Nyiragongo is another volcano that caused much damage to Goma in 2002.
How Nyamuragira is Shaped
Nyamuragira is a huge volcano. It holds about 500 cubic kilometers of material. It covers an area of 1,500 square kilometers. It has a gentle, wide shape. This is called a shield volcano. It looks very different from the steep-sided Nyiragongo volcano nearby.
Nyamuragira releases a lot of sulfur dioxide gas. This gas goes into the air from volcanoes. Nyamuragira is responsible for a large part of this gas in the atmosphere.
Nyamuragira's Recent Eruptions
The 2010 Eruption
On January 2, 2010, Nyamuragira started to erupt. It began spewing out hot lava flows. There are no towns very close to the volcano. However, park rangers worried about local wildlife. They feared the eruption might harm chimpanzees in the area. Another concern was the lava reaching Virunga National Park. This part of the park has villages and people living there.
Satellite pictures showed the lava flows from 2010. They stretched 25 kilometers southwest to Lake Kivu. Other flows went 22 kilometers northwest. Some even went 35 kilometers north-north-east.
The 2011 Eruption
The volcano erupted again on November 5, 2011. This eruption was very powerful. It created a column of lava 400 meters high. People said it was the biggest eruption in 100 years.
Nyamuragira's Lava Lakes
The 2014 Lava Lake
In 2014, something new appeared at the volcano. A new lava lake formed. This was the first time in 75 years. The old lava lake had emptied during a 1938 lava flow. The new lake grew between June and August 2014. It became very deep, reaching 500 meters.
This eruption did not harm nearby communities. But it did cause a lot of ash and air pollution. Tiny particles called sulfate aerosols formed. These came from the volcano's sulfur dioxide gas. They were seen far away. They even reached the central Amazon rainforest in South America. By 2018, the lava lake had cooled and hardened. The activity seemed to have stopped. However, eruptions continued in the summit area during 2021.
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The 2021 Lava Lake
In 2021, another lava lake was seen. A satellite image from June 11 confirmed its presence.
The 2024 Caldera Overflow
On July 26, 2024, lava began to spill over. It flowed from the northern edge of the volcano's top crater. The lava moved towards the northwest. A large amount of lava came out during this event. The flow traveled 5 kilometers on the first day.
What Nyamuragira's Name Means
The name "Nyamulagira" comes from the Mashi language. This language is spoken by the Bashi people in the Kivu region. Old stories and traditions explain its meaning. It comes from the word kulagiriza. This word means "to cause suffering."
Local people used to shout "Rwamalagiriza" during eruptions. They also said "Namalagiriza." These phrases showed their sadness. They were distressed by the lava flows. These words mean "misfortune has happened to me" or "I am suffering."
Over time, "Rwamalagiriza" changed. It became "Nyamulagiriza" and then "Nyamulagira." This name literally means "the one who causes suffering." It is how they refer to the volcano.
See also
In Spanish: Monte Nyamuragira para niños
- List of volcanoes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Mount Nyiragongo
