Lake Nyos — Attraction in Zhoa

Ever heard of Lake Nyos? If not, this is one lake that provided the perfect playground of when nature decides to portray its full wrath. Located in the Northwest region of Cameroon, the lake is infamous for the catastrophic limnic eruption that occurred on August 21, 1986, releasing a massive cloud of carbon dioxide (CO₂) that suffocated over 1,700 people and thousands of livestock in nearby villages. To better understand this phenomenon, The lake is situated above a volcanic magma chamber that leaks CO₂ into the water. Over time, the gas accumulates in the lower layers of the lake due to stratification. A simple landslide or volcanic activity may end up triggering what's now called a limnic eruption.It was 21st August 1986, 38 years ago. Villagers were going about their business as usual when the air became unbreathable. 1,746 people and nearly 3,000 livestock died of asphyxiation around Lake Nyos. The phenomenon can be explained by the fact that Nyos is a crater lake. Scientific hypotheses suggest that this type of lake is generally found at the end of a chimney, in which gases can be trapped for an indefinite period. A triggering event such as an earthquake, or a landslide in the water of the lake, releases the trapped gases, asphyxiating people in the vicinity. Carbon dioxide asphyxiation is a very insidious process, as it is an almost colourless gas, and the victim faints almost without realising what is happening. The only other documented cases of death from limnic eruption have occurred in Cameroon around Lake Monoun in western Cameroon (16 August 1984, 37 victims) and at Messel in Germany, where researchers studied fossils and concluded that a limnic eruption had occurred during the eocene era. Since then, the authorities have undertaken to degas Lake Nyos periodically to prevent...

Totally takes your breath away. Was an absolutely life changing experience. As soon i add got near, i passed out from simply looking at it. I got tons of crazy, life-revealing ideas. Absolutely mind blowing. You really feel one with nature, the air is so thick and you can practically feel it. So great. Love this place, however i couldn't find my dog if you see him tell me. The place is so quiet and peaceful, and although i don't understand Cameroonian, the people never talked to me, it was so nice. Has a wired smell, though.

Let's be honest we all know how you got here pretty crazy what...

Did you come to check this out after reading the horrific CO2/Carbon Di Oxide incident?

It killed 1746 People and more than 3000 live stock of the villages around it overnight in 21 August 1986.

Lake sits in a volcanic crater, Volcanic vents exited at the bottom of the lake realising a lot of gases out into the lake at the bottom out of which CO2 was maximum.

Due to a natural disturbance, the CO2 rich waters of the Lake POP like a soda and release massive amounts of this gas which covers the nearby villages smothering unarmed people who simply drop dead due to...