Symmetrical Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano is seen here from the slopes of Embagi volcano, to its SW. The summit peak separates two craters, the northernmost (left-hand) of which has been historically active. Ol Doinyo Lengai is renowned for its chemically distinctive products. It is the only volcano known to have erupted carbonatitic tephras and lavas during historical time. These sodium carbonate volcanic rocks are relatively poor in silica, the dominant chemical component of magmas erupted at nearly all of Earth's other volcanoes.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1976.

Copyrighted image used with permission. All Rights Reserved. Contact photographer for any usage requests.

Ol Doinyo Lengai