USGS Multimedia Gallery: Exploding Lakes in Cameroon

Title: Exploding Lakes in Cameroon

Description:

In 1986, Lake Nyos, in the volcanic region of Cameroon, released a cloud of CO₂ into the atmosphere, killing 1,700 people and 3,500 livestock in nearby towns and villages. Since then, engineers have been artificially removing the gas from the lake through piping. This photo shows the Lake Nyos pipe in operation. The 200-meter-long pipe is suspended from the raft and allows gas-rich water from the lake bottom to vent to the surface, where the CO₂ dissipates into the atmosphere at a controlled rate. The shed on the control raft is about 6 feet high and the fountain is about 120 feet high. There are no pumps involved because the CO₂ drives the fountain, just like a shaken bottle of champagne.

Location: Cameroon

Date Taken: 2006

Photographer: Bill Evans , USGS

Usage: This image is public domain/of free use unless otherwise stated. Please refer to the USGS Copyright section for how to credit the photo.

Source:

File Details:
Type: JPEG image - 609.41 KB
Dimensions: 1428 x 1071

Suggest an update to the information/tags?

Lake Nyos (Set)