NASA MODIS Image of the Day: November 20, 2011 – Eruption of Nyamuragira Volcano, Democratic Republic of the Congo
After two days of intense seismic activity, a fissure appeared on the flank of Nyamuragira volcano on the evening of November 6, 2011, releasing lava, ash and a plume rich in sulfur dioxide.
Rangers in Virunga National Park, where the volcano is located, were the first to report the event as they witnessed spectacular lava fountains lighting up the night sky.
Lava fountains were reported to reach a height of 400 meters (1,300 feet). Ten days later, the eruption continues and it is still so spectacular that the Virunga National Park has begun to organize tours to a safe location close to the volcano, where tourists can witness the event. Lava fountains continue to feed a large lava flow, which reached 11.5 km (7 mi) within 6 days of the eruption. By November 12, the lava flow front was nearing the road between Kelengera and Tongo. Fortunately, the lava is flowing in primarily unpopulated areas and damage to human structures is not expected to be severe. This image was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite on November 16, 2011. Nyamuragira is located near the center of the image, where a box outlined in red marks both the vent of the volcano and the hot lava flow. The 3,053-meter (10,013-foot) volcano is located in eastern Congo, very near that country’s border with Rwanda.
