Volcano · Tanzania
Ol Doinyo Lengai
The only volcano erupting natrocarbonatite: lava that flows black and turns white.
Status right now
No current reports
Ol Doinyo Lengai is not in the latest Smithsonian weekly report or the GDACS volcano alerts. That usually means it is quiet, but not every change is reported straight away. For official alerts, follow the local volcano observatory.
Checked 4 Nov 2026, 22:41 UTC.
Key facts
- Country
- Tanzania
- Region
- Africa
- Type
- Stratovolcano
- Summit
- 2,962 m (9,718 ft)
- Coordinates
- 2.764° S, 35.914° E
- Smithsonian number
- 222120
What kind of volcano is it?
Ol Doinyo Lengai is a stratovolcano. A stratovolcano is a tall, steep cone built from layers of lava, ash and rock from many eruptions. Its sticky magma traps gas, so eruptions are often explosive, with ash columns and fast-moving pyroclastic flows.
Eruption history
| Date | VEI | Deaths | Also |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jul 1967 | 3 | – | – |
| 14 Aug 1966 | 4 | – | – |
| 24 Jul 1940 | 2 | – | – |
| 1 Jan 1917 | 3 | – | – |
4 significant eruptions near Ol Doinyo Lengai in NOAA's Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database, which lists eruptions that caused deaths, damage or a tsunami, or were VEI 6 or larger. VEI is the Volcanic Explosivity Index, from 0 to 8.
Nearby volcanoes
- NyiragongoDR Congo · 753 km
- NyamulagiraDR Congo · 761 km
- KarthalaComoros · 1,294 km
- Erta AleEthiopia · 1,894 km
- Piton de la FournaiseFrance (Réunion) · 2,968 km
- SantoriniGreece · 4,490 km
Not an official warning service. In an emergency, follow your local authorities.