Liquid black lava is ejected from a lava lake on the crater floor of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano in Tanzania in June 1988. The relatively low-temperature carbonatitic lava (sodium carbonate) is black during daylight hours and is incandescent only at night. Temperatures of 495-544 degress Centigrade were measured during a June 1988 expedition. Slow extrusion of lava flows on the floor of the crater began in 1983.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1988.

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

Ol Doinyo Lengai