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This unique volcano in Tanzania releases cold lava and is slowly sinking, intriguing scientists and challenging our perceptions of volcanic phenomena.
In northeastern Tanzania, amidst the stunning Rift Valley, lies Ol Doinyo Lengai, a volcano that challenges traditional understandings of the forces of nature. Known as the most bizarre volcano in the world, it expels black and “cold” lava, with temperatures well below what would be expected of a common volcano. This unique natural phenomenon has aroused the interest of scientists and adventurers, intriguing the world with its peculiarities. Continue reading to learn about the peculiarities of this cold lava volcano.
The cold lava of Ol Doinyo Lengai
When we think of volcanoes, the image that usually comes to mind is that of incandescent rivers of red or orange lava, flowing at temperatures exceeding 900°C. However, the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, which rises imposingly at an altitude of 2.962 meters, challenges this classic image. It is the only known volcano on Earth to exude carbonatite magma, a type of lava rich in carbonates, such as calcium and sodium, but poor in silica.
This lava, unlike most, reaches a temperature of just 540°C, making it the coldest lava in the world. Its appearance is equally unusual: when magma is expelled from the volcano, it has the consistency of a black liquid, resembling engine oil running down the slope. As the lava cools, it changes color, going from black to white, creating a scene that is as impressive as it is peculiar.
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The peculiarities of the most bizarre volcano in the world
The peculiarities of the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano are not limited to its lava. One recent study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, revealed an equally strange phenomenon: the volcano is sinking. According to scientists, the Ol Doinyo Lengai has been gradually decreasing in height over the last decade, with the mountain losing about 3,6 centimeters per year. In total, between 2013 and 2023, the volcano shrank by 36 centimeters.
This sinking is directly related to a magma reservoir located about a thousand meters below the volcano. This reservoir, which feeds the eruptions of Ol Doinyo Lengai, appears to be emptying, leading to the mountain's subsidence. The exact reason for the emptying of the reservoir is still a mystery to scientists. One theory suggests that it could be connected to another deeper reservoir, located more than three thousand meters below the surface.
Technology at the service of science: monitoring sinking
To map the sinking of the volcano with cold lava, researchers used data obtained from satellites, specifically the Sentinel-1 and Cosmo-SkyMed. These tools made it possible to observe subtle changes in the ground around the volcano, identifying that an area next to the north crater was moving away from the satellite at a constant rate.
Interestingly, the world's most bizarre volcano showed no signs of sinking before 2007, when a powerful eruption opened a second crater, known as the north crater, about 100 meters inside the volcano. From then until mid-2008, Ol Doinyo Lengai experienced a series of eruptions, marking the beginning of the subsidence process that continues to this day.
In addition to sinking, Ol Doinyo Lengai has other worrying characteristics. A 100-meter fissure, located in the western corner of the volcano, is filled with lava and can grow with each new eruption.. These signs indicate that the volcano requires constant monitoring to prevent possible natural disasters that could affect the surrounding communities.
What to expect from the cold lava volcano?
The world's most bizarre volcano continues to intrigue scientists and observers. While the sinking process of Ol Doinyo Lengai raises questions about the mountain's stability, the behavior of its carbonatite lava also offers a fertile field for research. Cold lava, more fluid and less viscous than traditional lava, can provide new insights into the dynamics of volcanoes and their interactions with the Earth's crust.
The need to monitor the cold lava volcano becomes even more urgent as evidence accumulates of changes in its internal structure. The combination of high technology and scientific research is fundamental to understanding the risks and possibilities what Ol Doinyo Lengai represents, not just for Tanzania, but for the global study of volcanoes.
Ol Doinyo Lengai is a geological wonder that challenges us to rethink our ideas about nature. Its cold lava and sinking phenomenon place it in a category of its own, highlighting it as one of the most intriguing and, at the same time, most unusual natural phenomena on the planet.
