NYIRAGONGO, MOUNT

active volcano in the Virunga Mountains of east-central Africa. It lies in the volcano region of Virunga National Park, Congo (Kinshasa), near the border with Rwanda, 12 miles (19 km) north of Goma. It is 11,385 feet (3,470 m) high, with a main crater 1.3 miles (2 km) wide and 820 feet (250 m) deep containing a liquid lava pool. Some older craters on the mountain are noted for their plant life.