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Suswa Volcano - John Seach
(Ol Doinyo Nyukie)
Kenya
1.175 S, 36.35 E
summit elevation 2356 m
Shield volcano
Suswa is the southern most caldera in the Kenyan Rift Valley. There is a 12 x 8 km caldera with the rim at an altitude of 1890 m.
The volcano contains an unusual island-block abd caldera structure which is also seen at Poseidonius and Gassendi craters on the moon.
Eruptions at the volcano are divided into three periods.
1) Initial eruptions formed a shield volcano with an oval outline and covering 130 sq miles. Lava flows were viscous and sluggish. The main eruptive phase was followed by eruptions from several small cones distant from the main volcano.
2) After a period of quiet of unknown duration (probably several hundred thousand years) there was a second eruptive phase at the volcano. The eruption centre moved SW along a fracture line and formed a second cone called Ol Doinyo Nyukie. This cone had an asymmetrical shape and a ventral vent which visible as a partly preserved pit crater.
3) The most recent sequence of eruptions at the volcano was the least significant in size.
Suswa Volcano Eruptions
Current activity at the volcano consists of fumarolic activity along fracture lines.