Case file · Sacred site
Ol Doinyo Lengai, the Mountain of God
The Maasai call this volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai, the Mountain of God, home of Engai; its unique black lava, which turns white when it cools, erupted explosively in 2007–2008.
2007 CE · -2.76, 35.91 · status: official
The account
Maasai bring offerings and pray at its foot for rain and children, and its eruptions are read as signs. It is the only active volcano that erupts natrocarbonatite lava, which flows at about 500 °C and looks like black oil.
The sceptical view
The geology is well understood; the mountain's holiness is living Maasai tradition.