OL DONYO LENGAI TO BECOME PART OF A 12.000 SQUARE KILOMETRES LARGE GEO PARK
(Posted 25th July 2017)
Two iconic landmarks in Northern Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Crater and Mt. Ol Donyo Lengai, will be part of a new ‘Geo Park‘ which is set to be created by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, in short NCAA.
Mr. Nixon Nyange, the public relations officer of NCAA was quoted having said: ‘We are working to expand the country’s tourism potential by introducing attractions based on land formations, geology, history and geographical features, all being packaged under the single entity of ‘Ngorongoro-Lengai,’ Geopark‘.
The mountain, one of a few active volcanoes in the Eastern African region, has recorded several minor eruptions over the past decades but has been at the epicentre of several earthquakes which were felt in the entire region. Located just about 150 kilometres from the city of Arusha and between Ngorongoro and Lake Natron, The last major eruption with lava and massive ash clouds took place in 2007 though increased seismic activity was recorded throughout 2008 too. An additional lava outflow then took place in 2011 though of late was a significant rise in seismic activity once again recorded after more sensors were placed on the flanks of the mountain.
Meetings towards the formation of the new geopark concept are now evolving and when concluded will this new park become the first of its kind in Sub Saharan Africa and with 12.000 square kilometres immediately jump to the top of the rankings by size in Africa.
