Satellite Image Reveals Intense Heat from Dual Lava Lakes in Congo’s Volcanic Peaks
A recent satellite image captured in false color has revealed intense heat signatures from two newly formed lava lakes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, located at the summits of two simultaneously erupting volcanoes.
The volcanoes—Mount Nyamuragira and Mount Nyiragongo—are among the most active and hazardous in Africa, situated just north of Goma, a city with a population exceeding one million. These two peaks are only about 10 kilometers (6 miles) apart.
Mount Nyamuragira is a broad, shield volcano reaching an elevation of 3,058 meters (10,033 feet), while Mount Nyiragongo is a steep, cone-shaped stratovolcano that rises to 3,470 meters (11,385 feet).
A few weeks following Nyamuragira’s eruption—the first since March 2012—a satellite captured the dramatic thermal activity. Though this eruption ended in May 2016, Nyamuragira has since erupted twice more: once between November 2016 and May 2017, and again starting in April 2018, which remains ongoing.
In contrast, Mount Nyiragongo has been persistently erupting since May 2002.
During their concurrent eruptions, prominent lava lakes formed at the summits of both volcanoes. Scientists find the lava lake at Nyiragongo particularly notable, as such features are uncommon in stratovolcanoes. In fact, a 2021 study identified it as the largest lava lake on Earth at various times over the last 20 years.
According to NASA’s Earth Observatory, the infrared satellite image highlighted the molten lava in glowing red, while the surrounding vegetation appeared bright green due to the imaging technique.
Since 1900, the two volcanoes have collectively erupted nearly 60 times, underscoring their volatile nature.
