Lake Nyos

Lake Nyos, nestled in the remote northwestern corner of Cameroon, is a body of water as beautiful as it is deadly. This crater lake, lying in the Oku Volcanic Field, is infamous for the catastrophic event that occurred on August 21, 1986, when it released a massive cloud of carbon dioxide, suffocating over 1,700 people and countless animals in nearby villages.

The lake, which fills a volcanic crater, is one of only three known lakes in the world saturated with carbon dioxide due to magma lying beneath it. This geological phenomenon, known as a limnic eruption or "lake overturn," is rare and can happen without warning, turning the placid lake into a silent killer.

Measuring roughly 1.2 miles across and with a depth of about 682 feet, Lake Nyos is held back by a natural dam composed of volcanic rock. After the disaster, engineers installed a degassing tube to allow the safe release of gas, thus lowering the risk of another eruption and making the area safer for the inhabitants.