Fastest lava flow
- Who
- Mount Nyiragongo
- What
- 60–100 kilometre(s) per hour
- Where
- Congo (the Democratic Republic of the) (Goma,)
- When
- 10 January 1977
The fastest lava flow ever recorded occurred when the shield volcano Mount Nyiragongo, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, erupted on 10 January 1977. The lava, which burst through fissures on the volcano's flank, travelled at speeds of up to 60–100 kilometres (37–62 miles) per hour. Up to 2,000 people were killed when the flow inundated the nearby city of Goma.
The flow can reach such speeds because the lava is "mafic" – i.e., is very low in silica – which means it has a low viscosity so is more fluid.
The crater of Mount Nyiragongo is also home to the world's largest lava lake.