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I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

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Mount Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is Africa’s most active volcano and home to the world’s largest permanent lava lake. At over 200 m across, the lava bubbles and boils at 2000 degrees C, with gas explosions and spurts of lava up to 10 metres high.

Intrepid travellers can cross the border from Rwanda into conflict-torn Congo, and then hike for 6 hours for the chance to spend a night at the top of this incredible mountain.

If you’re lucky, as I was, the clouds will clear and you’ll get to spend hours watching the molten rock frothing and churning like a bubbling cauldron.

It looks like a portal into the centre of the earth or a great fiery chasm. Little wonder that the name ‘Nyiragongo’ means ‘smoking mountain’, and the locals believe it’s the gateway to Hell.

More info: passportandpixels.com

The huge lava lake of Nyiragongo is 200 m across

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

The molten rock is bubbling at 2000 degrees C

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

The name Nyiragongo means ‘smoking mountain’

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

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The volcano looms over the nearby city of Goma

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

Residents must be on their guard against eruptions

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

Conflict is still ongoing in DR Congo

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

Three armed guards accompany every group of hikers

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

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Everyone must stick together in case of possible trouble

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

It’s a steep but manageable climb

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

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Guards make sure everyone is OK

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

The views on the way up are spectacular

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

As we neared the top the mists rolled in

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

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At first the crater was full of cloud, but finally it cleared

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

The lava lake is mesmerising

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

Gas explosions and spurts of lava pop like fireworks

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

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The lava cools and cracks as it reaches the surface

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

From below, the searing red heat lights up the smoke

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

We couldn’t tear ourselves away

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

When the volcano last erupted in 2002, lava like this poured out

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

40% of the city of Goma was destroyed. People fled for their lives

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

For now, the volcano is biding its time

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

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But from the top you can see just how close the city is

I Spent The Night At The Top Of An Active Volcano In DR Congo, Capturing The Boiling Lava Lake

It sounds like an ocean or a waterfall – watch with the sound on:

5Kviews

Passport and Pixels

British TV producer, travel blogger & photographer | Credits include BBC, Channel 4, Lonely Planet | UK Blog Awards 2018 WINNER for Photography See why at www.passportandpixels.com

British TV producer, travel blogger & photographer | Credits include BBC, Channel 4, Lonely Planet | UK Blog Awards 2018 WINNER for Photography See why at www.passportandpixels.com

What do you think ?

Lou Wow 6 years ago

Lava always makes me want to poke it with a stick to see what happens. It's so fascinating and gooey looking. 😀

12points

Pilot Dave 6 years ago

I worked in a super alloy melt lab... NiCrCo melts white hot, 2,600 F High carbon (4%) steel, about 1,550 F and looks much like lava... in color and goooyieness. Fun times.

1point

Load More Replies...

Passport and Pixels (Post author) 6 years ago

I know what you mean! Though I'm pretty sure you can't get close enough to do that! It was just incredible from a distance too though, even though I was sitting over half a km away from it!

1point

KT Trondsen 6 years ago

LOL I was just telling a co-worker i wanted to poke lava with a stick and see what happens 10 seconds before reading this

0points

M O'Connell 6 years ago

The DRC is a pretty awful place to have to live given the wars, poverty and famine. However the shot-up park sign hasn't even reached rural Iowa levels of bullet holes yet.

3points

Passport and Pixels (Post author) 6 years ago

You are so right. Life is really tough there. I was glad that even in some small way my tourist dollar was helping, and if this post inspires more people to go and spend theirs too, then even better!

3points

Load More Replies...

Levi Blaisdell 6 years ago

It will be awasome to see that in your own eyes

2points

Pilot Dave 6 years ago

And feel the heat !!!

1point

Load More Replies...

Joe Tilden 6 years ago

Somebody in bored panda’s gotta cover Hawaii. (Not saying that this wasn’t super cool)

1point

Passport and Pixels (Post author) 6 years ago

Haha thanks... I think! Not been to Hawaii but it's on the list!

1point

Load More Replies...

Sarah Kim 6 years ago

So dangerously beautiful.

1point

Passport and Pixels (Post author) 6 years ago

Thanks Sarah! It was amazing!

0points

Load More Replies...

Full Name 6 years ago

Please tell me you threw the One Ring in there. Live this must've been absolutely spectacular. That sound from the video was surprising and awesome.

0points

Pinoy Tambayan 6 years ago

watch online Pinoy Lambingan Latest All Full Epiaode Free Download on Dailymotion tfcshows.com

0points

Pinoy Tambayan 6 years ago

For now, the volcano is biding its time very nice beautiful. watch online pinoy tambayan Latest All Full Epiaode Free Download on Dailymotion tfcshows.com

0points

Magpie 6 years ago

Am I the only that is totally scared by this stuff? Great photos! I'll just go and sniff my lavender now. Homes and volcanoes do NOT mix.....update on Hawaii's Kilauea volcano. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-08/lava-consumes-abandoned-car/9737636

0points

Passport and Pixels (Post author) 6 years ago

Even though we were quite far away I did find it terrifying and beautiful at the same time. I wrote about it on a lot more detail on my blog. Link in my bio if you're interested.

0points

Load More Replies...

Lou Wow 6 years ago

Lava always makes me want to poke it with a stick to see what happens. It's so fascinating and gooey looking. 😀

12points

Pilot Dave 6 years ago

I worked in a super alloy melt lab... NiCrCo melts white hot, 2,600 F High carbon (4%) steel, about 1,550 F and looks much like lava... in color and goooyieness. Fun times.

1point

Load More Replies...

Passport and Pixels (Post author) 6 years ago

I know what you mean! Though I'm pretty sure you can't get close enough to do that! It was just incredible from a distance too though, even though I was sitting over half a km away from it!

1point

KT Trondsen 6 years ago

LOL I was just telling a co-worker i wanted to poke lava with a stick and see what happens 10 seconds before reading this

0points

M O'Connell 6 years ago

The DRC is a pretty awful place to have to live given the wars, poverty and famine. However the shot-up park sign hasn't even reached rural Iowa levels of bullet holes yet.

3points

Passport and Pixels (Post author) 6 years ago

You are so right. Life is really tough there. I was glad that even in some small way my tourist dollar was helping, and if this post inspires more people to go and spend theirs too, then even better!

3points

Load More Replies...

Levi Blaisdell 6 years ago

It will be awasome to see that in your own eyes

2points

Pilot Dave 6 years ago

And feel the heat !!!

1point

Load More Replies...

Joe Tilden 6 years ago

Somebody in bored panda’s gotta cover Hawaii. (Not saying that this wasn’t super cool)

1point

Passport and Pixels (Post author) 6 years ago

Haha thanks... I think! Not been to Hawaii but it's on the list!

1point

Load More Replies...

Sarah Kim 6 years ago

So dangerously beautiful.

1point

Passport and Pixels (Post author) 6 years ago

Thanks Sarah! It was amazing!

0points

Load More Replies...

Full Name 6 years ago

Please tell me you threw the One Ring in there. Live this must've been absolutely spectacular. That sound from the video was surprising and awesome.

0points

Pinoy Tambayan 6 years ago

watch online Pinoy Lambingan Latest All Full Epiaode Free Download on Dailymotion tfcshows.com

0points

Pinoy Tambayan 6 years ago

For now, the volcano is biding its time very nice beautiful. watch online pinoy tambayan Latest All Full Epiaode Free Download on Dailymotion tfcshows.com

0points

Magpie 6 years ago

Am I the only that is totally scared by this stuff? Great photos! I'll just go and sniff my lavender now. Homes and volcanoes do NOT mix.....update on Hawaii's Kilauea volcano. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-08/lava-consumes-abandoned-car/9737636

0points

Passport and Pixels (Post author) 6 years ago

Even though we were quite far away I did find it terrifying and beautiful at the same time. I wrote about it on a lot more detail on my blog. Link in my bio if you're interested.

0points

Load More Replies...

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