Active and Extinct Volcanoes in Kenya

Geomorphology
of Volcanic
Mountains
ACTIVE AND EXTINCT
VOLCANOES IN KENYA.
Omondi Felix Mark
ACTIVE AND EXTINCT VOLCANOES IN KENYA.
THIS IS A LIST OF ACTIVE AND EXTINCT VOLCANOES IN

KENYA.
Elevation Location Last

Name Volcanic Landform
meters feet Coordinates eruption
The Barrier 1032 3385 2.32° N 36.57° E 1921 Shield Volcano
3.50° N 36.042° Stratovolcano(Composite
Central Island 550 1804 -
E Cones)
Shaitani Shaitani Cinder
Chyulu Hills 2188 7178 2.68° S 37.88° E 1855
Chainu Chainu Cinder
Mount Elgon 4321 14178 1.1° S 34.5° E Stratovolcano(Caldera)
Pyroclastic cone(Cinder
Elmenteita Badlands 2126 6975 0.52° S 36.27° E Holocene
Cone)
Emuruangogolak 1328 4357 1.50° N 36.33° E 1910 Shield Volcano
Complex(Composite
Homa Mountain 1751 5745 0.38° S 34.50° E Holocene
Cones)
Stratovolcano(Volcanic
Mount Kenya 5199 17057 0°9′S, 37°18′E -
Neck)
Korosi 1446 4744 0.77° N 36.12° E Holocene Shield Volcano
Likaiu 915 3000 2.17° N 36.36° E - Shield Volcano
0.914° S 36.446° Stratovolcano(Caldera)
Longonot 2776 9108 1863
E
Marsabit 1707 5600 2.32° N 37.97° E Holocene Shield Volcano
Menengai 2278 7472 0.20° S 36.07° E 6050 BC Shield Volcano(Caldera)
Namarunu 817 2680 1.90° N 36.27° E 6550 BC Shield Volcano
Tuff Cones(Cinder
North Island (Kenya) 520 1706 4.07° N 36.05° E -
Cone)
Nyambeni Hills 750 2460 0.23° N 37.87° E Holocene Shield Volcano
Ol Doinyo Eburru 2856 9370 0.63° S 36.23° E - Complex
Ol Kokwe 1130 3707 0.63° N 36.08° E Holocene Shield Volcano
0.904° S 36.292° Pumice Cones(Cinder
Olkaria 2434 7985 1770
E Cone)
Paka 1697 5568 0.92° N 36.18° E 6050 BC Shield Volcano
Pyroclastic cone(Cinder
Segererua Plateau 699 2293 1.57° N 37.90° E Holocene
Cone-Pyroclastic Flow)
Silali 1528 5013 1.15° N 36.23° E 5050 BC Shield Volcano
South Island (Kenya) 800 2625 2.63° N 36.60° E 1888 Stratovolcano
Suswa 2356 7730 1.175° S 36.35° E - Shield Volcano(Caldera)
© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 1

1. Mount Elgon
• 1.13 N, 34.55 E
• summit elevation 4321 m
• Extinct Stratovolcano
Mount Elgon is the second highest mountain in Kenya and is an extinct volcano. Mount
Elgon is in the far west of Kenya on the Ugandan border. The woodland on the south eastern
slopes merges into thick mountain forests. In amongst the forest and caves you will find
elephant, buffalo and other animals. Kitum cave is famous as the place where elephant herds
enter deep into the mountain each night where they excavate salt. It is possible to drive up to
3,659 meters and then hike across moorland to Koitoboss Peak. Access to Mt Elgon is from
the town of Kitale.
Mount Elgon is the second highest mountain in Kenya. The volcano is located 140km North
East of Lake Victoria and is bisected by the Kenya-Uganda border. Approximately 8km in
diameter, Mt. Elgon’s caldera is one of the largest intact calderas in the world. Concerns of
volcanic activity were raised in August 2004 after gas emissions were detected in cave on the
mountain.Mt Elgon Eruptions 2 million years ago Mount Elgon is an extinct shield volcano
on the border of Uganda and Kenya. The mountain is named after the Elgeyo tribe, who once
lived in huge caves on the south side of the mountain. It was known as "Ol Doinyo Ilgoon"
(Breast Mountain) by the Maasai and as "Masaba" on the Ugandan side. It is the oldest and
largest solitary volcano in East Africa, covering an area of around 3500 km².Mt. Elgon
consists of five major peaks:
• Wagagai (4,321m), being in Uganda.
• Sudek (4,302m or 14,140ft) in Kenya
• Koitobos (4,222m or 13,248 ft), a flat topped basalt column (Kenya)
• Mubiyi (4,211m or 13,816 ft)
• Masaba (4,161m or 13,650 ft)
In 1896, C.W. Hobley became the first European to circumambulate the mountain. Kmunke
and Stigler made the first recorded ascent of Wagagai and Koitobos in 1911. F. Jackson, E.
Gedge, and J. Martin made the first recorded ascent of Sudek in 1890. The main peak is an
easy scramble and does not require any mountaineering equipment.
Other interesting features are:
• The caldera — Elgon's is one of the largest intact calderas in the world
• The warm springs by the Suam River
• Endebess Bluff (2563m or 8408 ft)
• Ngwarisha, Makingeny, Chepnyalil and Kitum lava tube caves. Kitum Cave is
over 60 metres wide and penetrates 200 metres. It is frequented by wild elephants
who lick the salt exposed by gouging the walls with their tusks. It became
notorious for its association with the Marburg virus after two people who had
visited the cave (one in 1980 and another in 1987) contracted the disease and
died.
The mountain soils are red laterite. The mountain is the catchment area for the several rivers
such as the Suam River which becomes the Turkwel downstream and which drains into Lake
Turkana, the Nzoia River and the Lwakhakha which flow to Lake Victoria. The town of

Kitale is in the foothills of the mountain. The area around the mountain is protected by two
Mount Elgon National Parks one on each side of the international border.
Mt Elgon

2. Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya is the sacred mountain of the Gikuyu people. Mount Kenya is the second
highest mountain in Africa and can be climbed. The walk is relatively easy but you have to
be careful of mountain sickness and time is needed to acclimatize. The actual summit is 5199
metres and is only reachable by climbing. Walkers can reach Point Lenana at 4985 metres
and takes between 2 and 5 days. The nearest towns to Mount Kenya are Naro Moru and
Nanyuki. Mount Kenya is located on the African Rift Valley. Eruptions have been infrequent
in recent years, but there will be future volcanic activity. Volcanic activity extends 200 km
both east and west of the main Rift Valley and is centered on the Kenya "dome". There is a
diversity of volcanic rocks from acid to basic. Volcanism in the northern half of the Kenya
Rift Valley began at 30 million years ago, and in the southern half it began at 15 million
years ago.
Before going on to describe Mount Kenya, some explanation is necessary of the different
parts which make up a volcano.
The neck is the channel or pipe through which molten lava from the lower crust of the
earth rises to the surface. Materials discharged accumulate round the vent and build up a
cone. The central depression or crater is kept clear by the explosive up rush of steam, etc.
The cone is composed of lava and fragmentary volcanic materials known as ash if very
fine-grained, tuff when the ash is consolidated, or agglomerate if the material is coarse-
grained. These products are easily destroyed by wind and rain, so that it is only in the
more recent volcanoes that we find the cones and craters still preserved. Although the
main crater of Mount Kenya has long since been removed by erosion, parasitic cones of a
much later date may be seen on the lower slopes of the mountain, many of which have
their craters still preserved.
The most resistant part of a volcano is the plug of lava which consolidates in the neck and
it remains standing long after the lighter materials have been worn away. A mountain in
which the plug forms the summit is sometimes known as a volcanic neck: an example is
Mount Kenya. Volcanic cauldrons or caldera (as opposed to craters) are caused by
subsidence, not up-building, and examples of these are Menengai, near Nakuru, and
Ngorongoro (commonly, but erroneously, called Ngorongoro crater) in
Tanganyika(Tanzania), which is more than 20 Kilometers across and one of the biggest
caldera in the world.
The crater of Mount Kenya is thought to have existed some 915 meters above its present
summit (5195 meters). The peaks of Nelion and Batian consisting of the plug of the
volcano, are composed of nepheline-syenite, a deep-seated igneous rock and not a lava.
The various stages in the history of formation of the mountain may be summarized as
follows
a) Miocene or Pliocene. First eruptions of phonolite, followed by second and main
eruptions of kenyte.
b) Lower Pleistocene. Third eruptive stage (olivine-basalt), after a long interval
between eruptions.
c) Denudation, destruction of the crater, and excavation of existing valleys.
d) Maximum glaciation during Lower and Middle Pleistocene, with a warmer period
between during which the glaciers retreated.
The glaciers on the mountain, which number ten at the present time, were first studied by Sir
Halford Mackinder in 1903 and were found to end at between 44,060 and 45, 43 0meters. Dr.
E. Nilsson has since concluded from the evidence of morrainesl that the glaciers formerly
descended 1524 meters lower: to 3,049 meters in fact, and Dr. H. L. Sikes believes that they
came as low as 2134 meters (the ice cap on Ruwenzori was lower still).
Professor Gregory described fifteen glaciers on Mount Kenya, but five of these have now
disappeared and, from observations and photographs taken in the last few years, it is evident

that the present glaciers are fast retreating. A few years ago, as Lieut. P. C. Spink remarks,
the Curling Pond (at 4,573 meters approximately) extended to within a few meters of the top
hut. This year (1948) I' noticed that the ice was about 28 meters from the hut and it looked by
no means firm enough to attempt skating, as Mr. Melhuish did about 15 years ago. Whether
the general progressive desiccation which is taking place in Kenya will mean the
disappearance of the glaciers on Mount Kenya in the near future is a matter for speculation
and I believe that no accurate measurements of the retreat of the ice have been taken on
Mount Kenya, though Lieut. Spink has attempted to do this on Kilimanjaro over a number of
years.
Professor Gregory remarks on the contrast between the jagged peaks above the ice zone
which are exposed to frost action, and the rounded summits of areas which were formerly
covered by ice and thus suffered corrasion by glaciers but were preserved from disintegration
by frost (alternate freezing and thawing) under their blanket of ice. In former times when the
glaciers descended much lower, they carved out many perfect V-shaped valleys which
radiate from the main peaks.
Other interesting evidence of a climate which was formerly much colder than it is to-day is
afforded by the famous tree-groundsels (Senecio) and giant lobelias found at the higher levels
on Mount Kenya and other African mountains (tree-groundsels). The ancestors of these huge
plants must have lived at a lower altitude when the climate was colder and, as it became
warmer, they retreated up the slopes of the mountains until they became completely isolated
and gradually formed distinct species on the tops of the various mountains.
In a recent paper Professor F. Zeuner has drawn attention to frost soils on talus slopes
between 3963 meters and 4268 meters on Mount Kenya. On strongly inclined slopes striped
soil structures are seen, while more level surfaces have structures of network type. In the
latter type, fine earth centres about 127-203 millimeters wide occur in a stony background,
being separated from each other by borders of
25.4-102 millimeters. The sorting processes responsible for these structures are only active
under wet conditions and the main causes of the sorting are "frost heave" and "frost shove"
produced by needle ice formation. Frost soils are also observed in the Arctic, but here they
are due to seasonal freezing, whereas on Mount Kenya they are caused by the great diurnal
variations in temperature.
Kenya is indeed a "country of contrasts" and can boast of many striking features, but none I
think more imposing than the sight of the glaciers on Mount Kenya at dawn, their snows a
delicate pink against deep blue shadows, with the dark mass of the forest belt separating them
from the parched brown of the plains beneath. It is not difficult to believe that this awe-
inspiring mountain is the abode of the gods, as the Wakamba believed, and as such it is
fitting that our country should take its name from their word for the mountain, which is
"Kirinyaga" (in Kikamba the letters r and g are slurred, so that the word becomes" Ki-i-nya-
a").

Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya

3. Mount Longonot
• 0.92 S, 36.45 E,
• Stratovolcano type of volcano.
• Eruptions1863, ~1600, 1330, 1270 BC, and 3650 BC
Mount Longonot is 2777m high and rises out of the Rift valley and has a distinct volcanic
shape. The name comes from the Maasai world "olonong'ot" which means 'mountain of
many spurs'. Whilst dormant the waters just a few thousand metres below the surface are
over 300 degrees and one of the hottest on earth. The climb up passes lava fissures and
canyons and some game can be seen. The views of the rift Valley are spectacular. Mount
Longonot is 60 km north of Nairobi on the old Naivasha – Nairobi road. From the park gate
to the summit will take about 6 hours return. 0.92 S, 36.45 E, summit elevation 2617 m
stratovolcano type of volcano. Longonot volcano is located SE of Lake Naivasha.
Lava flows on the northern flank occurred around 1863. In the mid 20th century 30
fumaroles were reported at the volcano. On the northern flank there is a well preserved
parasitis cone and recent-looking lava. Longonot Volcano Eruptions1863, ~1600, 1330,
1270 BC, and 3650 BC.Mount Longonot is a dormant stratovolcano located southeast of
Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya, Africa. It is thought to have last erupted in
the 1860s. Its name is derived from the Maasai word oloonong'ot, meaning "mountains of
many spurs" or "steep ridges".Mt. Longonot is protected by the Kenya Wildlife Service as
part of Mount Longonot National Park. A trail runs from the park entrance up to the crater
rim, and continues in a loop encircling the crater. A forest of small trees covers the crater
floor, and small steam vents are found spaced around the walls of the crater. The mountain is
home to various species of wildlife, notably zebra and giraffe.Mt. Longonot is 60 kilometres
northwest of Nairobi and may be reached from there by a tarmac road. A nearby town is also
named Longonot. The Longonot satellite earth station is located south of the mountain.

Mt Longonot
Mt Longonot

4. Western Highlands
The Western Highlands are around Eldoret which has an international airport. Within the
region are a number of other airstrips. The main towns are Kericho, Kitale, Kaptagat and
Kabaranet. The highlands are a group of hill and ranges with views across the Rift Valley.
The Cherengani Hills rise to 3581 metres and lie northwest to Kapenguria. The hills are
popular with more adventurous hikers and long hikes are possible. The Tugen Hills provide
views across the rift valley to Lake Baringo. The hills around Kericho are covered in tea
estates. Saiwa Swamp National Park allows walking and home of the Sitatunga and semi-
amphibious antelope that lives in the swamps.
5. Shimba Hills
Shimba Hills National Reserve is just 50 kms inland from the coast and is an area of open
grassland and rainforest. Easy to spot Elephant, Giraffe and Buffalo and if lucky the Roan
and Sable antelope. In the forest are found the Black and White Colobus, Red Duiker and
Suni Antelope. Access to the Shimba Hills is from Kwale.
6. Taita and Chyulu Hills

The Taita Hills are part of the Tsavo area and accessed from Taveta. The Chyulu Hills are
young volcanic mountains and formed just over 500 years ago. A black lava known as
Sheitani is found lining the hills. Home to elephant,cheetah and plains game and Maasai
villages. In Taveta are the Jipe and Chala lakes.
7. Mount Dukana
• Kenya/ Ethiopia border.4.08 N, 37.42 E

• Pyroclastic cones.
• The volcano lies on the Kenyan - Ethiopian boder.Mega Basalt Volcano Eruptions
No recent eruptions.
8. North Island Volcano
• 4.07 N, 36.05 E
• Summit elevation 520 m
• Tuff cones
• North Island is 2 km wide and located in Lake Turkana in northern Kenya. The
last eruption is unknown but there are two unvegetated lava flows on the shore.
Geothermal activity is present on the southern half of the island.

9. Central Island Volcano (Crocodile Island)
• 3.50 N, 36.04 E
• Stratovolcano
• Central Island is located in Lake Turkana in northern Kenya.
The island has 15 craters and cones with three occupied by lakes.
One group of craters appears to be more recent with ropy lava and scoriae
showing little weathering.
Fumarolic activity is present on the rim of the central crater with sulphur
covering the walls.
• All beaches on the island are less than 12 m above sea level which indicates the
island structure is recent, due to the fact that water levels have been falling in the
lake from a maximum 76 m above the present level. Central Island is vegetated by
spiny grass and thorn bush. Central Island Volcano Eruptions 1974?, ~1000 AD
10. South Island Volcano (Honel Island)
• 2.63 N, 36.60 E
• Stratovolcano South Island is the largest island in Lake Turkana, northern Kenya.
• There are 16 craters on the island aligned on a central ridge.
In the northern part of the island there are lava flows (over 10,000 years old)
which reached the coast. Local legends report fires on the island which may have
been due to volcanic activity. South Island Volcano Eruptions 1888.
11. Marsabit Volcano (Mount Marsabit)
• 2.32 N, 37.97 E
• Shield volcano
Marsabit is a 6300 km² basaltic shield volcano in Kenya, located 170 km east of the center
of the East African Rift. This was primarily built during the Miocene, but some lava flows
and explosive maar-forming eruptions have occurred more recently. At least two of the maars
host crater lakes.
The volcano is covered by dense forest. Marsabit National Park is in the area.
Marsabit volcano is located in northern Kenya, east of Lake Turkana. It is a large shield
volcano with 180 cinder cones and 22 maars. The volcano contains surface slopes of less
than 6 degrees. Lava flows have thickness of 5-20 m.
The maars are up to 2.5 km in diameter, and some locally coalesce to form composite craters
up to 3.0 km long. Volcanism is concentrated along two belts 15 km long, aligned NE and
NW through the summit.
Marsabit is the only one of the four major shield volcanoes in northern Kenya which contains
many maars. This is due to its location across the Chalbi Basin, which is the main

groundwater sink in northern Kenya. The resulting mixing of groundwater and magma has
created numerous maars.Marsabit Volcano EruptionsNo recent eruptions.
12. The Barrier Volcano
• 2.32 N, 36.57 E
• Shield volcano
The Barrier is a shield volcano located in Kenya. It is known to have last erupted in 1921.
Elevation1,032 m (3,386 ft) Location Kenya Coordinates 2°32′N, 36°57′W Type Shield
volcano Last eruption 1921 Listing List of volcanoes in Kenya
The Barrier is composed of four overlapping shield volcanoes at the southern end on Lake
Turkana. The volcano derives its name from its location which is between Lake Turkana and
the Suguta Valley (the location of a former lake). The volcano is nearly symmetrical in N-S
with slopes of 4-5 degrees.
Explosive eruptions and lava flows have been reported at the volcano. The Barrier Volcano
Eruptions1921, 1920?, 1917, 1906?, 1897, 1895, 1888, 1871, 1090, 1050, 1030
13. Namarunu Volcano
• 1.90 N, 36.27 E
• Shield volcano
Namarunu is a volcano located in the Great Rift Valley, Kenya Elevation 817 metres (2,680
feet) 817 metres (2,680 feet) Location Kenya Coordinates 1.98° N 36.43° E Type Shield
volcano Last eruption Unknown.
Namarunu is located south of the Barrier Volcano in northern Kenya. Hot springs are located
at the volcano.
Namarunu Volcano Eruptions 6550 BC
14. Segererua Volcano
• 1.57 N, 37.90 E
• Pyroclastic cones
Segererua volcano is a series of eruption centres located along a 50 km long NE-SW fissure.
The volcano is located east of the east African Rift. Segererua Volcano Eruptions; No recent
eruptions.

15. Paka Volcano
• 0.92 N, 36.18 E
• Shield volcano
Paka is a volcano located in the Great Rift Valley, Kenya. Geothermal activity is widespread
at Paka.
Last eruption 7550 BC ± 1000 years
Geothermal activity is present at the summit caldera and northern flank.
Paka Volcano Eruptions6050 BC
16. Korosi volcano
• 0.77 N, 36.12 E
• Shield volcano
Korosi is a volcano located at the northern end of Lake Baringo, Kenya. Korosi volcano is
located at the north end of Lake Baringo. Fumaroles and hot steaming ground are present at
the summit cones and NW flank.
Korosi Volcano EruptionsNo recent eruptions.
17. Ol Kokwe Volcano
• 0.63 N, 36.08 E
• Shield volcano
Ol Kokwe Island is located in the centre of Lake Baringo. It is the smallest volcano in the
northern Rift Valley. Geothermal activity is present along the NE peninsula.
Ol Kokwe Volcano Eruptions No recent eruptions.
18. Nyambeni Hills Volcano
• 0.23 N, 37.87 E
• Shield volcano
• Basaltic cinder cones are the most recent features of the volcano.
• No recent eruptions.
Meru is located on the Kathita River, on the northeast slopes of Mount Kenya. It is situated
about five miles north of the equator, at approximately 1524 meters altitude, in an area of
mixed forest and clearings, small towns, villages, and rural farms, and is mainly populated by
people of the Meru Tribe.
The town is accessible by paved road, whether from the south around the east side of Mount
Kenya, via Embu, or from the northwest around the west and north side of Mount Kenya, via
Nanyuki and Timau (As of February 2004, the road to Meru via Nanyuki was still fairly

rough). Meru District is a jumping-off place for Samburu and Buffalo Springs National
Reserves and Lewa Downs, all some distance north of Meru, with Samburu and Buffalo
Springs via Isiolo, and Meru National Park, to the northeast of Meru, via Maua in the
Nyambeni Hills.
19. Menengai Volcano
• 0.20 S, 36.07 E
• Shield volcano
• Menengai Volcano Eruptions 7350 BC
Menengai is a massive shield volcano located in the Great Rift Valley, Kenya. Farmland
occupies the flanks of the volcano.
Menengai is located ten kilometres north of Nakuru, the fourth largest city in Kenya.
Menengai volcano is located on the floor of the Rift Valley. It is one of five recent volcanoes
in the central Kenya Rift valley. The volcano was formed about 200,000 years ago with the
growth of a 30 cubic km volume lava shield. The 12 x 8 km caldera formed 8000 years ago.
More than 70 post caldera lava flows cover the caldera floor. Cinder cones are rare at the
volcano.
The south and western portions of the crater are complete. In the centre of the caldera there is
a small cone rising above surrounding lava, which shows fumarolic activity. There have been
four fumaroles measured with temperatures up to 94 deg C.
20. Emuruangogolak Volcano
• 1.50 N, 36.33 E
• Shield volcano
• Emuruangogolak Volcano Eruptions 1910, 1700, 1300, 1230, 1160, 1115, 6550
BC, 8050 BC
Emuruangogolak is a shield volcano straddling the Gregory Rift in Kenya, a country in
Eastern Africa. The Global Volcanism Program states that is last known eruption was in
1910 +/- 50 years. The volcano's summit is 1328 m (4357 feet), and its formation is
calculated to have been 38,000 years ago..
The volcano is located at the narrowest part of the Baringo-Suguta trough. Volcanic activity
commenced about one million years ago. Hot ground and fumaroles are located along
fissures within the caldera and lower NW flanks.

21. Silali Volcano
• 1.15 N, 36.23 E
• Shield volcano
Silali volcano contains a spectacular 8 x 5 km diameter summit caldera which formed 63,000
years ago. Undated young looking lava flows are located on northern and NE flanks.
Geothermal activity is present in the caldera and upper eastern flanks. The steep caldera
walls are up to 300 m high. Some undated eruptions may be as recent as a few hundred years
ago.
22. Homa Mountain
• Elevation 1,751 metres (5,745 feet)

• Location Kenya Coordinates 0.38° S 34.50° E
• Type Complex volcano Last eruption Unknown
• 0.38 S, 34.50 E
• Complex volcano
• Homa Mountain Volcano Eruptions: Hot springs are present at the volcano.
Mount Homa is a mountain and extinct volcano located in western Kenya. It forms a broad
peninsula on the southern shore of Winam Gulf, an extension of Lake Victoria. This
peninsula defines Homa Bay and the mountaintop is about 20 kilometres north of the town of
that name.
In the Luo language Got Uma or Got Marahuma means "famous mountain".
The mountain is formed of carbonatite lava and dates from Miocene to Pleistocene. Along
with the active Ol Doinyo Lengai, it is one of the very few carbonatite volcanoes in the
world.
Homa Mountain is located on the eastern shore of Lake Victoria. The volcanic complex
consists of the largest centre Homa two other centres Nyasanja and Apoyo. The most recent
vents are Chiewo, Got Ojawa and Got Oloo. Other eruptive centres are Rapogi, Nyamatoto,
Ratieng, Odiawo, Rongo, and Ndiru.
The volcano centre lies in a weakened zone near the intersection of the Kendu and Samaga
faults. There is an elliptical lake (Simbi) located east of Homa mountain which probably
formed in historical times.

Homa Mountain in Kenya 1994
Mount Homa, on Lake Victoria, Kenya December 2001

23. Elmenteita Badlands Volcano
• 0.52 S, 36.27 E
• Pyroclastic cones
The volcano is located between Lake Elmenteita and Eburru volcano.
Elmenteita Badlands Volcano Eruptions
No recent eruptions.
24. Ol Doinyo Eburru Volcano
• 0.63 S, 36.23 E
• Complex volcano
• Ol Doinyo Eburru Volcano Eruptions; There have been no recorded eruptions
during historical times
Eburru is a village in Kenya. It is located approximately 3 hours outside capital Nairobi.
Eburru is found in Kenya's countryside along the Great Rift Valley. In Kenya Eburru is
sometimes referred to as "the bush." It is located neat the Ol Doinyo Eburru volcano.
Eburru is home to Primary and Secondary Schools.
The volcano is located in one of the least stable parts of the Kenyan Rift Valley.
There are numerous steam jets, fumaroles, and solfatara along recent faults.
25. There h Olkaria Volcano (Olkaria)
• 0.904 S, 36.292 E
• Pumice cones
• Olkaria Volcano Eruptions 1770
The volcano is located south of Lake Naivasha. Fumarolic activity is present at Njorowa
Gorge and two pumice cones.
Have been no recorded eruptions during historical times.
26. Suswa Volcano (Ol Doinyo Nyukie)
• 1.175 S, 36.35 E
• Shield volcano
• Suswa Volcano Eruptions; Current activity at the volcano consists of
fumarolic activity along fracture lines.
Mount Suswa is a low-lying Quaternary volcano in the Eastern Rift Valley of Kenya. It rises
from the south-sloping floor of the Rift as an asymmetric, shield-shaped cone that covers an
area of about 270 km2. The volcano consists of sodalite-bearing, phonolitic lava flows and
subordinate proportions of pyroclastic rocks. The cone was built on a volcanic plateau

composed of quartz-bearing, trachyte flood lavas (Plateau Trachyte Series; Baker 1958). The
volcanic history of Mount Suswa can be divided into three major eruptive episodes: (1)
formation of a primitive, shield-shaped volcano composed mainly of lava flows derived from
central sources; (2) eruptions at the time of cauldron subsidence producing abundant pumice
and thick lava flows, most of which issued from a ring-fracture zone outside, and concentric
with, the caldera escarpment ('ring-feeder' lavas); (3) post-caldera lavas which partly filled
the caldera and later built Ol Doinyo Nyukie volcano. Towards the end of the last eruptive
episode an unusual collapse feature, in the form of a 'ring graben', was formed inside the
older caldera. South of Mount Suswa a series of north-south linear faults transect the plateau
basement of trachyte flood lavas. Near the southern periphery of Mount Suswa these faults
die out, in some cases converging toward the centre of the volcano. Also in the south it is not
always possible to distinguish between the quartz-bearing, trachyte flood lavas of the Rift
floor and the sodalite-bearing flows from the central vents of Mount Suswa. (Sodalite-
bearing flood lavas are known to be present.) The primitive volcano consists of lava flows,
the earliest of which are the most voluminous. An unusual heterogeneous rock comprises the
upper parts of the youngest primitive volcano flows. The rock consists principally of globules
of lava moulded on to each other, each with a continuous glassy rim and a vesicular,
crystalline core. The flows have been termed 'globule-surface lavas' (Johnson 1968). Other
heterogeneous glassy rocks on Mount Suswa resemble examples from the controversial 'froth
flows' described from various parts of Kenya (including Mount Suswa) by McCall (1965)
and McCall Bristow (1965). After a period of quiescence, a caldera was formed in the
summit of the primitive volcano. The relationships between the caldera escarpment and the
pumice and ring-feeder lavas on Mount Suswa are described in detail. These relationships are
significant because they question the widely held assumption that, in calderas with thick
pumice mantles, it is the rapid expulsion of pumice (producing a void in the magma
chamber) that leads to the collapse of the magma chamber roof. This process, known widely
as the 'Krakataun' mechanism (Williams 1941; after van Bemmelen 1929), is not applicable
to Mount Suswa since the pumice and ring-feeder lavas mantle the caldera escarpment.
Instead, as previously suggested by McCall (1963), a more likely process is that releases of
pressure along the ring faults, formed during cauldron collapse, produce the explosive
eruptions. In reviewing and discussing in detail the literature on calderas, it is concluded that
many so-called 'Krakatau-type' calderas may have originated in the same way as the Mount
Suswa caldera. Furthermore, it is emphasized that in the case of any one caldera great care
must be taken in describing and interpreting the often ambiguous relations between cauldron
subsidence and concomitant explosive eruptions. The post-caldera sequence of lavas on
Mount Suswa is divided into two parts: an earlier group of generally non-porphyritic lavas;
and a later group of distinctive, porphyritic lavas containing abundant anorthoclase
phenocrysts. Most of the flows of the later group were erupted from a central vent in the
southwest part of the caldera. They produced Ol Doinyo Nyukie volcano, at the summit of
which is a pit crater. The second major collapse on Mount Suswa took place entirely within
the older caldera and produced an annular trench, or 'ring graben'. This unusual structure
consists of two, more or less concentric, fault scarps bounding a steep-sided annular zone of
subsidence. The ring graben truncates the pit crater of Ol Doinyo Nyukie and isolates a tilted,
flat-topped, central island-block with a maximum diameter of 3.75 km. The island-block is
inaccessible and its detailed structure is unknown. Consequently, the origin of the ring
graben is still uncertain. However, three possible subsidence mechanisms are suggested. A

fresh lava flow, similar to those of Ol Doinyo Nyukie volcano, partly covers the floor of the
ring graben. This flow, and a similar one on the south flank of Mount Suswa, is the most
recent eruptions of the volcano. Fumarolic activity persists at the present day.
Summary
Suswa is a shield volcano in the Great Rift Valley, Kenya. It is located between Narok and
Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
Suswa has a unique double crater with a moat-like inner crater surrounding a tilted block of
rock. The mountain is also known for its lava tube caves on the northeast side of the outer
crater. It is also possible to climb the mountain on foot from the Suswa Primary school at the
base of the mountain.
Suswa is the southern most caldera in the Kenyan Rift Valley. There is a 12 x 8 km caldera
with the rim at an altitude of 1890 m.The volcano contains an unusual island-block abd
caldera structure which is also seen at Poseidonius and Gassendi craters on the moon.
Eruptions at the volcano are divided into three periods.
1) Initial eruptions formed a shield volcano with an oval outline and covering 337 sq
kilometer. Lava flows were viscous and sluggish. The main eruptive phase was
followed by eruptions from several small cones distant from the main volcano.
2) After a period of quiet of unknown duration (probably several hundred thousand
years) there was a second eruptive phase at the volcano. The eruption centre
moved SW along a fracture line and formed a second cone called Ol Doinyo
Nyukie. This cone had an asymmetrical shape and a ventral vent which visible as
a partly preserved pit crater.
3) The most recent sequence of eruptions at the volcano was the least significant in
size.
27. Chyulu Hills Volcano
• 2.68 S, 37.88 E
• Volcanic field
• Chyulu Hills Volcano Eruptions; Shaitani and Chainu cinder cones erupted in
the mid 1855.
Chyulu Hills are located more than 100 km east of the Kenya Rift, and extent for 150 km
NW-SE. Eruptions at this off-rift volcano are due to a small mantle plume deflected off the
main larger plume under the Rift Valley. This same type of activity is also responsible for
eruptions at Kilimanjaro, Mt Kenya, Marsabit, Nyambeni, and Huri Hills.
Chyulu volcanic province covers an area of 2840 sq km.Leviathan Lava Tube
Additional East Africa unique volcanic mountains
1. Ol Doinyo Lengai (Tanzania)

Ol Doinyo Lengai is a volcano located in the north of Tanzania and is part of the volcanic
system of the Great Rift Valley in Eastern Africa. It is located in the eastern Rift Valley,
south of both Lake Natron and Kenya. It is unique among active volcanoes in that it

produces natrocarbonatite lava, a unique occurrence of volcanic carbonatite, which means its
lava is only 510 degrees Celcius (or 950 degrees Fahrenheit). A few older extinct carbonatite
volcanoes are located nearby, including Homa Mountain.
Whereas most lavas are rich in silicate minerals, the lava of Ol Doinyo Lengai is rich in the
rare sodium and potassium carbonates, nyerereite and gregoryite. Due to this unusual
composition, the lava is erupted at relatively low temperatures (approximately 500-600
degrees Celsius). This temperature is so low that the molten lava appears black in sunlight,
rather than having the red glow common to most lavas. It is also much more fluid than
silicate lavas. The sodium and potassium carbonate minerals of the lavas formed by Ol
Doinyo Lengai are unstable at the Earth's surface and susceptible to rapid weathering,
quickly turning from black to grey in color. The resulting volcanic landscape is different
from any other in the world. The chemical makeup of the lava has been compared to dish
soap.
"Ol Doinyo Lengai" means "Mountain of God" in the language of the native Maasai people.
The record of constant eruptions in the mountain goes way back to 1883, and that similar
flows were recorded between 1904 and 1910 and again between 1913 and 1915. A major
eruption took place in June 1917, which resulted in volcanic ash being deposited about 48
kilometres away.
A similar eruption took place for several months in 1926 and between July and December of
1940, resulting in the ash being deposited as far as Loliondo, which is 100 kilometres away.
Several minor eruptions of lava were observed in 1954, 1955, 1958 the early 1960s.
In modern times, Ol donyo Lengai erupted on August 14, 1966. Two geologists — J B
Dawson and G C Clark — who visited the crater a week later, reported seeing “a thick
column of black ash” that rose for approximately 915 meters above the volcano and drifted
away northwards towards Lake Natron. When the two climbed the cone-shaped vent, they
reported seeing a continuous discharge of gas and whitish-grey ash and dust from the centre
of the pit.
Volcanic activity in the mountain has caused daily earth tremors in Kenya and Tanzania
beginning on the July 12, 2007. The latest to hit parts of Nairobi city was recorded on July
18, 2007 at 8.30pm (Kenyan Time). The strongest tremor has measured 6.0 on the Richter
scale. Geologists suspect that the sudden increase of tremors is indicative of the movement of
magma through the Ol Doinyo Lengai. The volcano finally erupted on September 4, 2007,
sending a plume of ash and steam at least 18 kilometers downwind and covering the north
and west flanks in fresh lava flows. The eruption has continued intermittently into 2008, as of
the end of February it was reported that the eruption appeared to be gathering strength, with a
major outburst taking place on March 5. During April periods of inactivity have been
followed by eruptions on April 8 and 17, 2008.

The flank of the volcano.Ol Doinyo Lengai eruption 1966 Image of 1966 eruption Elevation
2,960 m (9,711 ft) Location Tanzania Coordinates 2°45′5″S, 35°54′8″E Type Stratovolcano
Last eruption 2008 (ongoing)[1][2] Easiest route Scramble.
Ol Doinyo Lengai Crater, Tanzania. Taken from south-western edge, showing recent lava
flow. 15th August, 2007

A view of the flank of the Ol Doinyo Lengai stratovolcano in Africa's Great Rift Valley,
specifically in Tanzania, which is often called the world's strangest volcano. Viewed on April
28, 2008
2. Mount Meru (Tanzania)
• Elevation4,566 metres (14,980 ft)

• Location;Arusha Region, Tanzania
• Coordinates 3°14′S 36°45′E / -3.233, 36.75Coordinates: 3°14′S 36°45′E / -3.233,
36.75
• Type; Stratovolcano
• Last eruption1910
Mount Meru is an active volcano located 70 kilometres (44 miles) west of Mount
Kilimanjaro. At a height of 4,566 metres (14,980 ft), it is still visible from Mt Kilimanjaro
on a clear day. Much of its bulk was lost about 8,000 years ago due to an eastward volcanic
blast, similar to the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in the U.S. state of Washington.
Mount Meru most recently had a minor eruption about a century ago. The several small
cones and craters seen in the vicinity probably reflect numerous episodes of volcanic activity.
Mount Meru's ash cone that has formed in the old crater.
Mount Meru is the topographic centerpiece of Arusha National Park. Its fertile slopes rise
above the surrounding savanna and support a forest that hosts diverse wildlife, including
nearly 400 species of birds, and also monkeys and leopards.
At the summit, one can find a two metre high flag of Tanzania in metal and also a milestone
in concrete with "Socialist Peak 4562.13M" written.

Mount Meru, October 2002
Mount Meru‘s ahs cone that has formed in the old crater

Active and Extinct Volcanoes in Kenya

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Active and Extinct Volcanoes in Kenya

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Geomorphology

THIS IS A LIST OF ACTIVE AND EXTINCT VOLCANOES IN

Elevation Location Last

© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 1

© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 2

© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 3

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© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 7

© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 8

6. Taita and Chyulu Hills

• Kenya/ Ethiopia border.4.08 N, 37.42 E

8. North Island Volcano

© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 9

9. Central Island Volcano (Crocodile Island)

10. South Island Volcano (Honel Island)

11. Marsabit Volcano (Mount Marsabit)

© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 10

12. The Barrier Volcano

13. Namarunu Volcano

14. Segererua Volcano

© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 11

15. Paka Volcano

16. Korosi volcano

17. Ol Kokwe Volcano

18. Nyambeni Hills Volcano

© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 12

19. Menengai Volcano

20. Emuruangogolak Volcano

© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 13

21. Silali Volcano

22. Homa Mountain

• Elevation 1,751 metres (5,745 feet)

© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 14

Homa Mountain in Kenya 1994

Mount Homa, on Lake Victoria, Kenya December 2001

© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 15

23. Elmenteita Badlands Volcano

24. Ol Doinyo Eburru Volcano

25. There h Olkaria Volcano (Olkaria)

26. Suswa Volcano (Ol Doinyo Nyukie)

© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 16

© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 17

27. Chyulu Hills Volcano

Additional East Africa unique volcanic mountains

1. Ol Doinyo Lengai (Tanzania)

© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 18

© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 19

© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 20

2. Mount Meru (Tanzania)

• Elevation4,566 metres (14,980 ft)

© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 21

Mount Meru, October 2002

© 1993-2003 Opulithe Corporation. All rights reserved 22

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