Nabro volcano before the eruption, at the NASA Earth Observatory 20 June 2011Posted by admin in Africa, Eritrea, Nabro, NASA Earth Observatory.
Image of the Day at the NASA Earth Observatory for 20 June 2011 is this photograph of Nabro caldera before the current eruption. The image was captured by an astronaut on the International Space Station on 30 January 2011 (we had a preview of the image here last week, thanks to our friends at NASA).
The horseshoe shape of the caldera, opening to the south-west, is clearly visible, with cinder cones to the west (lying between Nabro caldera and its neighbour, Mallahle) and their dark lava flows. There is also evidence of human habitation in the western part of the caldera, with fields, houses and paths discernible in the high definition image. The area is perhaps not so desolate and barren as some reports have suggested. One can only hope that those living nearby received enough warning from the precursory earthquakes to get themselves clear before the eruption began.
Click on the image to go to the original at the NASA Earth Observatory.