Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano
Updated: Nov 9, 2025 02:40 GMT -
Stratovolcano
Tanzania, -2.75°S / 35.9°E 
Summit height: 2890 m
Current status: minor activity or eruption warning (3 out of 5)
Last update: 10 Dec 2021 (effusion of natrocarbonatite lava inside the pit crater in the northern main crater)
Erupting hornito at Lengai volcano
Ol Doinyo Lengai, a symmetrical, steep classical stratovolcano rises majestically about 2000m from the East Africal Rift Valley depression to a summit elevation of 2890 m. To the Maassai people, it is home of God, which is also the meaning of the name. Ol Doinyo Lengai is the only active volcano that erupts natrocarbonatite lava.
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Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano eruptions: 1550 BC (?), 50 AD (?), 700 AD (?), 1350 (?), 1880, 1882, 1904, 1907, 1914, 1916, 1921, 1926, 1940, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1960, 1967, 1983, 1994, 2006, 2007-ongoing
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Background
Ol Doinyo Lengai is an extremely fascinating volcano: it is the only active volcano known to erupt carbonatite lava, a sensational discovery scientists made as recently as in the 1960s: the lavas it erupts are NOT melts based on silica, but on natroncarbonate!Thus, the temperatures of these lavas are much lower, "only" about 600 deg. C., and Lengai's lava does not emit enough light to glow during day,- only at night, a dull reddish glow that does not illuminate anything is visible. Also because of its peculiar chemical composition, the lava is extremely fluid and behaves very much like water, with the exception that it is black like oil. After it is cooled down it quickly alters and becomes a whitish powder.
Geologically, the present-day cone of the volcano was constructed about 15,000 years ago. Historical eruptions have been moderate to small explosive events. In addition to its intermittent explosive activity at intervals of typically years or decades, numerous natrocarbonitite lava flows have been erupted from vents on the floor of the active summit crater.
The depth and morphology of the active (northern) crater have changed dramatically during the course of historical eruptions, ranging from steep craters walls about 200 m deep in the mid-20th century to shallow platforms mostly filling the crater. Long-term lava effusion in the summit crater beginning in 1983 had by the turn of the century mostly filled the northern crater; by late 1998 uptill today lava had begun overflowing the crater rim.
Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano Photos
Ol Doinyo Lengai stratovolcano seen from the Ngorongoro Highlands at Empakai crater. The tall hornito in its active crater (on the left side) just peaks out into view. (P...
Ol Doinyo Lengai stratovolcano seen from Empakai crater. The tall hornito in its active crater (on the left side) just peaks out into view. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
The flat plain of the Rift Valley beneath Ol Doinyo Lengai, criss-crossed by erosion gullies. A small Maassai boma (=cluster of huts) in the right of the image. (Photo: ...
The crater of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (Tanzania) in June 2013 (Photo: Gian Schachenmann)
Significant volcanic eruptions: Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano
In the past 10,000 years, Ol Doinyo Lengai has had at least 26 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 22 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 3 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano.
Additionally, there are 3 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano since around 1900. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Ol Doinyo Lengai can be found on the news page of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Crater Historical obs./docs. | 0 | |||||
| North Crater Historical obs./docs. | 0 | |||||
| North Crater Historical obs./docs. | 0 | |||||
| North Crater Historical obs./docs. | 0 | |||||
| North Crater Historical obs./docs. | 3 | |||||
| North Crater Historical obs./docs. | 1 | |||||
| North Crater Historical obs./docs. | 2 | |||||
Discredited Eruption | ||||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | ? | ||||
| North Crater Historical obs./docs. | 3 | |||||
| 1967 Jul 8 (eruption | Historical obs./docs. | 3 | light | Info | ||
| North Crater Historical obs./docs. | 3 | |||||
| 1966 Aug 14 (eruption | Historical obs./docs. | 4 | light | Info | ||
| North Crater Historical obs./docs. | 1 | |||||
| North Crater Historical obs./docs. | 2 | |||||
| North Crater Historical obs./docs. | 2 | |||||
| North Crater Historical obs./docs. | 3 | |||||
| 1940 Jul 24 (eruption | Historical obs./docs. | 2 | light | Info | ||
| North Crater Historical obs./docs. | 2 | |||||
| North Crater Historical obs./docs. | 2 | |||||
| North Crater Historical obs./docs. | 3 | |||||
| 1917 Jan 1 (eruption | Historical obs./docs. | 3 | light | Info | ||
| North Crater Historical obs./docs. | ? | |||||
Historical obs./docs. | ? | |||||
| North Crater Historical obs./docs. | ? | |||||
| North Crater Historical obs./docs. | ? | |||||
Remark:
Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution
Eruptions of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano
Activity in 2010 - natrocarbonatite flows on the crater bootom
Similarly to previous phases, new natrocarbonatite lava is being erupted from vents at the bottom of the new crater. If this activity continues, it might once again fill the crater.
Similarly to previous phases, new natrocarbonatite lava is being erupted from vents at the bottom of the new crater. If this activity continues, it might once again fill the crater.
Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Ol Doinyo Lengai began in 2017 and is continuing (as of November 2025).
+How often does Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano erupt?
Since 1880, Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano has had at least 22 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 6.6 years.
Many eruptions of Ol Doinyo Lengai have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 71 out of 145 years until now. In other words, Ol Doinyo Lengai has been active at least one in 2 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Ol Doinyo Lengai is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.
+How active is Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano at present?
Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano is extremely active: Since 1900, it has been frequently active, showing eruptive activity during 68 years out of 126 as of now. The latest eruption is still continuing at present.
+When was the largest eruption of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano?
The largest eruption of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano in historic times occurred during 2007 - 2010. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.
Latest satellite images
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Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano Maps
Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).
Satellite/aerial-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (scale of few kilometers)
