Nyiragongo’s lava lake has at times been the most voluminous known lava lake in recent history.
The depth of the lava lake varies considerably depending on the activity of the volcano.
A recent very low elevation of the lava lake was recorded at about 2700 m (8800 ft).
Between 1894 and 1977 the crater contained an active lava lake.
Some reports quote much higher figures of up to several thousand people.
The hazards posed by eruptions like this are unique to Nyiragongo.
Nowhere else in the world does such a steep-sided stratovolcano contain a lake of such fluid lava.
Another major eruption of the volcano began on January 17, 2002.
Six months after the start of the 2002 eruption, Nyiragongo volcano erupted again.
These pictures are from the trip, by photographer Olivier Grunewald.
Sources:Wikipedia,Boston Globe
