a lot of scientists have been attracted by this volcano, Oldoinyo Lengai. Unique specimen in the world.
the Ngorongoro Highlands in the distance.
ashes and lava mixing up. Last eruption was in April 2008 and the black ash is still present, hampering vegetation to grow back. Some pictures, 100 years old or so, show a thick forest all the way up to the top! I wish I could see that in my lifetime.
a view of the western rim of the Rift valley, which is also the western shore of lake Natron. This dark of the top, a secondary plateau is not active.
details of the eastern slope and around. The few red dots are in fact green vegetation as seen in infrared. The volcano used to show a lot of green grass in the pre 2008 wet seasons.
one spot on the top shows grass and small bushes growing. That is the red spot right of the crater. After some past heavy rains, a puddle stayed there for a while, not absorbed by the thick layer of ashes. The winds must have embarked some seeds on a long journey... I doubt local Maasai warriors would have had the sense of humors to plant seeds up there...
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