Eruption of Ol Doinyo Lengai in 2008
June 16, 2014
Photographer: George Seielstad
Summary Author: George Seielstad
The awe and beauty of awaking in a Tanzanian tent camp to a stunning sunrise, a volcano eruption and a tight configuration of Venus, Jupiter and the Moon explains the Masai name for the volcano, "Mountain of God." This volcano, also known as Ol Doinyo Lengai, is the only one on Earth gushing natrocarbonatite lava (primarily sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate). At about 1,000 F (500 C), the lava is only half as hot as basaltic lava, the type emitted by other volcanoes. It emerges from the volcano’s mouth as a liquid but hardens in seconds. Ol Doinyo Lengai may be unique on Earth but similar flows have been spotted on Venus, which makes an eruption of the Mountain of God quite special when Venus is prominent in the sky. Photo taken on February 3, 2008.Photo details: Nikon F100 camera; Fujichrome Velvia 100 film; 70 mm focal length; 1/5 sec. exposure; f/11.