Lake Kivu on the Congo-Rwanda border is the highest lake in Africa at 1 459 m (4 788 ft). Beneath the lake lie vast reserves of methane gas whichhave not been exploited. Lake Kivu is also an important tourist center. These satellite images of Lake Kivu show dramatic changes before and afterthe eruption of Mt. Nyiragongo in January 2002. The 2003 image clearly shows the track of the lava flow, which traveled through Goma town and intothe northeastern part of the lake, contaminating its waters. Lake Kivu is one of Africa's killer lakes, containing a volatile combination of methane andcarbon dioxide gases with the capacity to kill thousands of people.