Located in the Northwest Region of Cameroon, Lake Nyos is a crater lake known for its potential to release large amounts of carbon dioxide from its depths. In 1986, a sudden release of CO₂ gas from the lake suffocated 1,746 people and 3,500 livestock in nearby villages.
To prevent future disasters, degassing tubes have been installed to release the gas safely.
Lake Natron, Tanzania
In northern Tanzania, Lake Natron is a highly alkaline salt lake with a pH as high as 12.
Its red-colored waters are inhospitable to most life forms. The lake’s caustic environment can calcify animals, giving them a petrified appearance. Despite its harsh conditions, it serves as a breeding ground for flamingos.
Lake Kivu, Rwanda
Bordering Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lake Kivu is one of the African Great Lakes.
It contains dissolved methane and carbon dioxide gases. The risk of a limnic eruption, where these gases could be released suddenly, poses a significant threat to the millions living nearby.
Boiling Lake, Dominica
Found in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park of Dominica, the Boiling Lake is a flooded fumarole with water temperatures reaching 92°C (198°F). The lake emits constant steam, creating a boiling effect. Its extreme temperatures make it hazardous to approach too closely.
Lake Monoun, Cameroon
Also located in Cameroon, Lake Monoun is another crater lake that 1984 released a CO₂ gas cloud, resulting in 37 fatalities. Like Lake Nyos, it sits on volcanic terrain, making it susceptible to similar gas accumulation and sudden releases.
Lake Karachay, Russia
Lake Karachay in the southern Ural Mountains was used as a dump for radioactive waste from 1957 to 1967.
The lake’s water is so contaminated that spending even a short time near its shores can be lethal. It’s considered one of the world’s most polluted bodies of water.
Lake Vostok, Antarctica
Hidden beneath more than 2 miles of ice, Lake Vostok is one of the largest subglacial lakes in the world.
Its isolation has led scientists to speculate about the unique microbial life that might exist there. However, drilling into the lake poses risks of contaminating a pristine environment.
