Explosive land

19 July 2013 - This Envisat radar image features a chain of volcanoes called the Virunga Mountains that stretch across Rwanda's northern border with Uganda and east into the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While most are dormant, Nyamuragira and Nyiragongo are Africa's two most active volcanoes. Nyamuragira, to the far east, erupts every few years producing large lava flows - one of which is evident as an elongated red spot. About 10 km to the southeast, Nyiragongo has a large lava lake. The area pictured is part of the Albertine Rift, one of Africa's most biologically diverse regions. The combination of high human population density, poverty and conflict poses a challenge to conservation. Across the mountain range, however, a series of national parks has been established to protect the fauna and flora.