🌋VolcanoAtlas

Mount Cameroon

West Africa's Highest Peak and Most Active Volcano

Elevation

4,095 m

Last Eruption

2000

Type

Stratovolcano

Country

Cameroon

Location

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Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows
  • Lava flows
  • Volcanic bombs and ballistics
  • Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskLow
Infrastructure RiskHigh
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Unknown
Silica Content
Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Unknown
Intraplate setting with hotspot or regional volcanic activity.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Unknown
Evidence
Unknown

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity26 years agoRecentRecently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Watch
Dormant but monitored. Capable of renewed activity.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

Related Volcanoes

All Cameroon Volcanoes
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Southwest Region
Regional volcanoes

Interesting Facts

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Mount Cameroon's first recorded eruption was observed by the Carthaginian navigator Hanno around 450 BCE, making it one of the earliest documented volcanic observations in human history.

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At 4,095 m (13,435 ft), Mount Cameroon is the highest peak in West Africa and the largest volcano by volume (1,400 km³) in sub-Saharan Africa.

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The volcano has produced lava flows that reached the Atlantic Ocean multiple times, including in 1922, with the 1999 flow stopping just 200 m from the coast.

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More than 100 parasitic cinder cones dot the flanks and surrounding lowlands of Mount Cameroon, many aligned along fissures parallel to the edifice's long axis.

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Debundscha, at the base of Mount Cameroon, receives approximately 10,000 mm (394 inches) of rain annually — making it one of the wettest places in Africa.

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The annual Mount Cameroon Race of Hope sends runners from Buea at ~1,000 m to the 4,095 m summit and back — a 42 km course with over 3,000 m of elevation gain.

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Mount Cameroon gave its name to the entire country — both derive from the Portuguese 'Rio dos Camarões' (River of Prawns).

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The volcano sits along the Cameroon Volcanic Line, a 1,600-km chain whose origin is still debated — it is not associated with any plate boundary or conventional hotspot.

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Mount Cameroon has erupted 9 times in the 20th century alone, making it one of the most frequently active volcanoes in Africa.

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The satellite peak Etinde (Little Cameroon) on the southern flank produces rare nephelinitic rocks found at very few volcanic centers worldwide.

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The 1986 Lake Nyos disaster, which killed ~1,800 people via limnic CO₂ eruption, occurred in a crater lake along the same Cameroon Volcanic Line.

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German colonial administrators chose Buea as the capital of Kamerun in 1901 partly because the volcano's elevation offered cooler temperatures than the humid coast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mount Cameroon still active?
Yes, Mount Cameroon is one of the most active volcanoes in Africa. It has erupted 19 times since approximately 450 BCE, with the most recent eruption occurring in May 2000. In the 20th century alone, the volcano erupted nine times (1909, 1922, 1925, 1954, 1959, 1982, 1989, 1999, 2000). The volcano's basaltic-to-trachybasaltic composition produces primarily effusive eruptions with lava flows, accompanied by Strombolian explosive activity. Given its history of erupting every few decades, volcanologists consider another eruption within the coming years to be likely.
How tall is Mount Cameroon?
Mount Cameroon stands 4,095 m (13,435 ft) above sea level, making it the highest peak in West Africa and the tallest volcano in sub-Saharan Africa. Because the volcano rises almost directly from sea level on the Gulf of Guinea coast, its visual prominence is extraordinary — the full 4,095 m of relief is visible from the shoreline on clear days. The edifice has an estimated volume of 1,400 km³, making it one of the largest volcanic structures on the African continent.
Can you climb Mount Cameroon?
Yes, Mount Cameroon is a popular trekking destination and one of the most accessible high-altitude climbs in West Africa. The standard ascent from Buea takes two to three days, passing through tropical forest, montane grassland, and volcanic desert. Guides and porters are required (organized through the Mount Cameroon Ecotourism Organization). Established hut camps provide overnight shelter. The best season is November to February (dry season). The annual Mount Cameroon Race of Hope attracts competitive runners who complete the summit round-trip in under five hours.
When did Mount Cameroon last erupt?
Mount Cameroon's most recent eruption began on May 28, 2000, from two vents on the upper southeastern flank at elevations between 3,200 and 4,000 m. The VEI 2 event produced Strombolian explosions and lava flows that, due to their high-elevation origin, did not reach populated areas. The previous eruption in March 1999 was more threatening, producing lava flows from lower-elevation vents that stopped just 200 m from the Atlantic coast. With eruptions in 1982, 1989, 1999, and 2000, the volcano demonstrates a pattern of frequent activity.
What type of volcano is Mount Cameroon?
Mount Cameroon is a stratovolcano — a large, steep-sided composite volcano built from alternating layers of lava flows, tephra, and volcanic debris. Its magma is dominantly basaltic to trachybasaltic, which is somewhat unusual for a stratovolcano (most produce more silicic magmas). This basaltic composition means eruptions are primarily effusive, producing fluid lava flows and moderate Strombolian explosions rather than the highly explosive Plinian eruptions typical of stratovolcanoes with more silicic magma. Over 100 smaller cinder cones on the flanks attest to the frequent, fissure-fed nature of its activity.
What is the Cameroon Volcanic Line?
The Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL) is a 1,600-km-long chain of volcanic centers extending from the Atlantic Ocean islands of Annobon and São Tomé northeastward through Mount Cameroon across the Cameroonian highlands into Nigeria and Chad. Unlike most volcanic chains, the CVL does not follow a plate boundary and does not show the age-progressive pattern of a hotspot track — volcanoes along its length have erupted concurrently rather than sequentially. Its origin remains debated, with hypotheses including edge-driven mantle convection and lithospheric fracture zones. Mount Cameroon is the largest and most active volcano along the line.
Is Mount Cameroon dangerous?
Mount Cameroon poses a significant hazard to the approximately 500,000 people living in its Fako Division. The primary danger is fast-moving basaltic lava flows, which have reached the Atlantic coast in multiple eruptions. The city of Buea (~90,000 residents) sits directly on the southeastern flank at about 1,000 m elevation. While the volcano's basaltic composition makes catastrophically explosive eruptions unlikely, the frequency of activity, the unpredictability of flank vent locations, and limited monitoring infrastructure and evacuation routes maintain a meaningful risk level.
What is the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope?
The Mount Cameroon Race of Hope is an annual mountain race first held in 1973, in which participants run from Buea (approximately 1,000 m elevation) to the summit at 4,095 m and back — a course of about 42 km with over 3,000 m of elevation gain. Elite runners complete the round trip in under five hours. The race attracts hundreds of national and international competitors and is a major cultural and sporting event in Cameroon, broadcast on national television. It is considered one of the most grueling mountain races in Africa.