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Nyiragongo volcano crater – a journey to the center of the Earth

In June 2010, a few brave scientists and researchers came to the shore of the lake of boiling lava – in the heart of the volcano Nyiragongo, located in the heart of the African Great Lakes region.

Researchers from childhood dream to get to the beach, the biggest lake of lava in the world, fascinated by the documentary film “Explosions devil”, shot Harun Taziffom in the 1960s. It is this film for the first time gave the audience a glimpse into the fiery crater of Nyiragongo heart. Photographer Olivier Grunewald was a meter from the lake, and now we have a unique opportunity to see the molten substance.

Here is a view from the edge of the volcano, 3470 meters (11,380 feet) above sea level. At a depth of 400 meters (1300 feet) is a lake of lava – one of the many wonders of the African continent.

Permanent lake of lava in the volcano Nyiragongo is the largest in the world. According to experts, it contains about 8 million cubic meters (282 million cubic feet) of lava. In 1977 and 2002, the lava lake had risen to the very edge of the crater, and lava destroyed much of the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

On the surface of the lake burst bubbles of gas. Lake constantly worried due to crustal movements.

Lake of lava often always focused on the coast, but that did not stop members of the expedition.

Nyiragongo volcano is considered the most active volcanoes in the world of eight, formed the Virunga mountain chain.

At the beginning of the descent to the second level are the most dangerous falling rocks. Gaza, too often blind climbers.

Members of the expedition had to drag myself to about 600 kilograms (1,300 pounds) of equipment, as well as supply of food and water, sufficient for two days. Their main camp was located at an altitude of 120 meters (400 feet) above the lake of lava.

Before this expedition, the participants had to undergo four months of training.

Alpinist and a veteran of campaigns in the Nyiragongo Jacques Barthelemy with rope pulls the equipment on the second level.

Volcanic gases above the main camp. Expedition members often had to sleep wearing masks.

Measuring the size of the lake of lava with a laser telemeter.

With this tube Dario Tedesco volcanologist take gas samples for the study of volcanic activity.

The hot gas is condensed in a special small tank. Scientists believe that is a vital operation that can be useful for predicting future eruptions.

Night. The camp covers a lake of lava.

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