Kivu is a lake in Africa

Each of us has heard, probably, a saying that,that in a quiet pool the devils are found. This expression perfectly describes Kivu - the lake, which is located in Africa. An unusually beautiful looking reservoir conceals an incredible danger for the whole Earth. The water in the lake is crystal blue, the banks are overgrown with rainforests, and every day against the background of the sunset the bird flocks return to their nests. And all this is so beautiful, an exciting spectacle is a delight that lasts until you begin to think about what keeps Kivu under your waters ...

Location of the lake

Kivu is a lake belonging to the group of GreatAfrican lakes, was formed in the Albertine rift. The appearance of the pond provoked volcanic eruptions that blocked the drain of the ancient river network. Kivu is located in the basin of a tectonic character at an altitude of about one and a half kilometers.

The lake is compared to a time bombor with a clock bomb. It accumulated a huge amount of gases that can escape from the first strong earthquake or volcanic explosion. And then all life on our planet can come to an end.

In the northern region of the reservoir there are underwatereruptions: expanding, the rift valley causes volcanic activity in the nearby region and deepens the lake itself. Extremely rugged, steep lake shores to most travelers resemble Norwegian fjords.

It is here that today the border between the Republic of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo lies. In the deepest places, the Kivu bottom sinks to almost 0.5 kilometers.

Danger of the pond

Kivu is a lake that has one characteristicfeature: on its surface is scattered about 150 large islands and small islets. The banks of the pond are inhabited incredibly densely. But the island of Ijwi is inhabited most of all, on which almost 250 thousand people live. A quarter of them are refugees from Rwanda, where inter-ethnic clashes take place regularly. The population of the island and the coast of Kivu is much dependent on humanitarian supplies, as this area has regular crop failures, fires and plant diseases.

Lake Kivu, in its variety, belongs to theMeromictic reservoirs, in which there is almost no movement of liquid between the balls with different levels of mineralization. As a result, the lower spheres of water stagnate, and life in them almost completely disappears. At the bottom of the pond, below 270 meters, in the dissolved state almost 65 km³ methane and 256 km³ carbon dioxide.

Scientists suggest that it is the composition of water inKivu became the main cause of the ailments of the islanders, the main of which are disorders of the brain and goiter. But the danger threatens and to all without exception the inhabitants of the coastal territory of the reservoir. At any second a limnological accident is possible-the eruption of gas through the water surface. The release can provoke a mass death of all living things on the territory of many thousands of square kilometers.

According to experts, one of the reasons for thisThe catastrophe will be an eruption of the volcano. At the bottom of the Kivu, where there is an increased concentration of gases, it will warm up the water, after which methane will separate from it. All this will be accompanied simultaneously by the explosion and release of an incredible amount of deadly carbon dioxide.

What happens to the gas

Kivu - a lake, a photo of which you see in the article,much in what differs from other reservoirs of both temperate and tropical climate. Its main quality can be called the absence of vaporization at the boundary between air and water. Due to the humidity of the atmosphere above the reservoir and the elevated temperature between air and liquid, a dense "cushion" of hot steam arises that stops the whirlpool of water molecules. As a result, the liquid in Kivu does not circulate, and the gas that accumulates at the bottom of the reservoir does not dissolve.

The lake is fed by warm underwater springs,bursting to the surface through a ball of sedimentary ash and frozen volcanic lava. Under the influence of climate change and volcanic activity, the temperature of the springs changes from time to time. But this in no way affects the overall picture. Due to this stability, the gas that accumulates under water is deposited in the form of a dense layer.

The pressure that holds it is also saved at the same level, but any violation of this equilibrium will provoke the explosion of the chemical mixture from carbon dioxide and methane.

Will there be an explosion?

Kivu, a lake in Africa, is regularly researched by scientists. Specifically, they are studying the complex chemical mixture that lies on the bottom of the reservoir. To give an unambiguous answer, whether the accumulated gases will soon erupt to the surface, or the lake will remain unchanged for several millennia, they can not.

The situation is complicated by the fact thatthe area in which Kivu is located is considered seismically dangerous, and seismic activity continues. In the late 40-ies of the last century there was already an eruption of the volcano.

International team of scientists can not accuratelyAnnounce when the explosion will occur and what will provoke it. In 2002, at a distance of 18 kilometers from the reservoir, a severe earthquake destroyed half the city of Goma in the Congo. But at the bottom of the lake the gas remained stable.

Interesting facts about the lake

Biologists believe that Kivu is a lake in the Africancontinent, which is the only water body not populated by large predatory animals, including crocodiles. The local population tells the travelers the story that in 1948 there was an eruption of the volcano Kytura, which is located next to the lake. In the pond came lava, which brought water to a boil, and the fish that lived in it were cooked alive. For some time the inhabitants of this region had to eat just this boiled fish floating on the surface of Kivu.

There is a theory according to which, the release of toxic gas can provoke a rare phenomenon - the lake tsunami. His wave will wash away all the settlements from the banks of the pond.

Three resorts

Kivu, a lake in Africa, the description of which weresulted above, it contains not only danger. There are also beautiful resort towns, the beauty of which can be admired endlessly. There are three such settlements:

1. Gisenyi - the resort is located in the northern region of the lake. Once upon a time this city was a colonial bohemian resort, on which it liked to spend holidays to representatives of the French administration.
2. Kibuye is a city located south of the previous resort. This is the most charming of all the resorts of Kivu.
3. Shangugu is the southernmost of all the resorts on the lake. This is a border town, the former greatness of which is evidenced by worn facades of pompous buildings in the past.

Other assumptions of scientists

Kivu is a lake in Africa (photo above), which erupted more than once. Scientists have found confirmation that in the past, gas emissions occurred about every thousand years.

If all the same and in our days will take placelimnological catastrophe on Kivu, its consequences will be simply terrifying: on its coasts in total there are two million people. Today, the level of carbon dioxide has not yet reached the critical point, but its content in the reservoir is constantly increasing.

Is it possible to avoid a catastrophe

On some lakes with the same problem as inKivu, scientists mounted vertical pipes. They mix water and bring to the surface small doses of toxic gases. But here everything is completely different. Kivu - the lake is volcanic and incredibly large. To install the chimneys here, you need a lot of money. To date, no plan to reduce the risk of an accident was initiated, so the two million population still remains in mortal danger.