Tanzania's Mount Lengai!

Oldoinyo Lengai is Tanzania's last active volcano located just south of Lake Natron. Beginning July 2007, when a series of earthquakes struck Northern Tanzania, Lengai has become increasingly active. Earlier this year, I made three visits to the Natron area. Each time Lengai's ash plume was more impressive. Between the January and February visits, a big crack appeared on Lengai's east side which February guests got a good look at it from the Engaruka to Engare Sero track which winds around that side of the mountain. In late February, a group and I were at Empakai Crater. The hike into Empakai was more difficult when black rain from Lengai descended. We decided not to camp on Empakai's rim that night but at Bulati instead. Our tents were still covered in a layer of volcanic grit, the size and texture of ground pepper, the following morning. At Bulati, the Maasai reported that they had evacuated their cattle from Naiyobi village beyond Empakai because the animals fell ill after eating ash-covered vegetation.

In March, Lengai's plume reportedly reached 50,000 feet. This time a group and I were camped at Ol Karien Gorge. Lengai was a remarkable sight from the campsite, even if the massive dark cloud of ash which drifted in our direction caused a few moments of concern. (It drifted right over us to affect the Gol Mountains more to the west.) Truthfully, there weren't too many places on the northern circuit earlier this year where you couldn't see Lengai's eruptions.

This is a great website (frank.mtsu.edu/~fbelton/latestnews.html) if you want to understand more about Lengai and are keen to follow its status, although, be prepared for volcanologist-speak..." hybrid magma formed by the assimilation of natrocarbonatite by a nephelinitic magma. The material resulting from the desilication of nephelinite is a novel magma for Lengai..."

29-08-2008