Katwe craters

The Katwe craters or Katwe-Kikorongo explosion craters are a group of volcanic craters within Queen Elizabeth National Park in Toro, Uganda.[1] The volcanic field is roughly 210 km2 (81 sq mi) in size.[2] The individual craters vary widely in size, but the largest are up to 3 km (1.9 mi) in diameter and 100 m (330 ft) deep.[3] The unusual formations were formed individually by a series of violent volcanic explosions over the last 1 million years.[3] The explosions were a result of superheated gas and steam, and despite the volcanic activity, there was no lava flow.[2]

NASA satellite image of the Katwe-Kikorongo volcanic field.

Many of the craters have now developed into saltwater lakes or lush grasslands.[2][3]

References
Crater lake in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
  1. "Lake Kwatwe Uganda Safaris". Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda. 2012-09-28. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  2. "Katwe-Kikorongo, Uganda". volcano.oregonstate.edu. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  3. Scheffel, Richard L.; Wernet, Susan J., eds. (1980). Natural Wonders of the World. United States of America: Reader's Digest Association, Inc. pp. 201. ISBN 0-89577-087-3.


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