Lake Nyos

Lake Nyos is a crater lake in the volcanic highlands of Cameroon’s Northwest Region known for a catastrophic limnic eruption on 21 August 1986 that released a large volume of carbon dioxide. The event caused widespread asphyxiation of people and animals in nearby settlements and led to sustained international mitigation efforts.

The lake formed in volcanic terrain and on 21 August 1986 a sudden release of CO2 from the lake suffocated villagers and livestock in surrounding communities. International teams subsequently designed and installed degassing systems to vent CO2 from deep water and established long-term monitoring to reduce the risk of a similar event.

Lake Nyos sits in a mountainous, volcanic part of Cameroon’s Northwest Region near local villages that historically farmed the crater slopes; access is by road and track from nearby towns and the surrounding landscape is steep and forested.

• 1986 disaster and mitigation: The 1986 limnic eruption released a large cloud of carbon dioxide that suffocated people and livestock; degassing works and monitoring have been established to lower risk levels.
• Access and safety: Visitor access is possible but constrained by safety considerations and local regulations; guided visits are recommended to understand the site's geology and history safely.

What to See #

• Memorials: A memorial site and commemorative markers stand near the lakeshore to remember the victims of the 1986 gas release.
• Degassing installations: Engineered degassing installations and monitoring equipment have been installed on the lake in successive projects to reduce the risk of future CO2 releases.
• Crater rim and viewpoints: The crater rim provides viewpoints over the lake and the surrounding volcanic landscape; access routes descend from the rim to the shoreline in places used by visitors and researchers.