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Nyiragongo

Nyiragongo (nyē"rägông'gō) [key], active volcano (c.11,400 ft/3,475 m) of the Virunga range in E Congo near the Rwanda border, NE of Lake Kivu and 12 mi (19 km) N of Goma, in southern part of Virunga National Park. It erupted in 1948, 1977, and 2002. There are several old craters, easily accessible and noted for their picturesque scenery and flora. Local legends associate the volcano with the place of expiation of guilty souls.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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