Volcanoes have always attracted the attention of travelers, photographers, and adventurers. It produces a certain fear to approach these imposing mountains, where it is possible to look into the interior of the Earth.
Africa is a continent with a large number of volcanoes, some are accessible and others are almost impossible to get close to. Today we will talk about the active volcanoes of this great continent.
Fogo Volcano – Cape Verde
The Fogo Island volcano originated hundreds of thousands of years ago, creating a mountainous structure of approximately 3500m, it is located on Fogo Island, it is a stratovolcano with a caldera 8 km in diameter.
Without a doubt, visiting the volcano on the island of Fogo is absolutely mandatory, being able to ascend its Peak, see the crater and slide down the slopes full of lava. It is also a good option to explore the caves generated by the volcanic formations.
Kilimanjaro – Tanzania
Imagen de Herbert Aust en Pixabay
Its 5895 meters of altitude make it the highest peak in the entire African continent, large in size and its location, as well as the climate, favor the existence of diverse ecosystems in a unique way, thus, on Kilimanjaro glaciers, deserts, alpine landscapes coexist , savanna and rainforest. In fact, Kilimanjaro National Park has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
Mount Nyiragongo – Democratic Republic of the Congo
User: (WT-shared) Cai at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Among the most difficult volcanoes to access is Mount Nyrangongo. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and is characterized by hosting one of the largest and least studied lava lakes on the planet, with more than 200 meters in diameter. This volcano is still active and has great destructive power.
Mount Cameroon – Cameroon
This high active volcano is spectacular, it is 4,400 m high and is an active volcano in Buea, in the Anglophone area of Cameroon. Normally, excursions of several days are organized to enjoy outdoor sports, but above all to soak up the culture of the country. During the ascent you will be able to collect food, talk with other hikers and natives and enjoy a unique landscape.
Erta Ale – Ethiopia
Jan Markiewicz, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The so-called Erta Ale volcano rises 613 meters high above the Danakil desert, in the Afar depression, Ethiopia and, it has been erupting since 1967, is one of the most active volcanoes in the country. It is probably one of the most beautiful volcanoes to visit. This shield volcano, which is characterized by its great extension and low slope, has been formed from successive layers of recurrent basaltic eruptions that can last for millions of years.
