The beauty of Nam Kar volcano

According to the research results of scientists , Nam Kar volcano is formed from 3 volcanoes including 1 main cinder cone and 2 secondary cinder cones. The main cinder cone is 60 m high, 220 m in diameter, with a small mouth about 20 m deep from the top of the mountain, with a typical oval shape. The point is 660 m above sea level, mainly composed of slag, each slag has a diameter of a few cm. To the North, a few dozen meters away, is a smaller slag cone (S1) 24.2 m high and 605 m above sea level, formed by an explosive eruption, including slag and volcanic bombs with a diameter of about 10 cm stuck together. This slag cone does not have a mouth on the top, instead there are gas escape phenomena, creating a tube structure during movement and is likened to the shape of a tree trunk. A few dozen meters to the south is the lowest volcanic lava crater (S2) which is 22.4 m high and 621 m above sea level. The crater has a horseshoe shape due to the lava eruptions at different periods, and at the same time forms a lava field with an area of about 4.75 km ² . Cinder cones and cinder cones are formed in the early stages of the eruption when the lava is still gas-rich and has low viscosity, earlier than the formation of the volcanic lava crater. The gas-filled lava is ejected into the air, broken into pieces and cooled rapidly. The eruption also creates volcanic bombs of various shapes and sizes, which have created a glassy membrane due to the rapid cooling. Later, when the lava begins to have less gas and is more liquid, they easily flow away to form the lava field. With its shape preserved quite intact, the Nam Kar volcano range is considered a very young volcano, dating back less than 10,000 years.

Figure 1 (8) — Although wild and not yet exploited for tourism , Nam Kar volcano always attracts the exploration of domestic and foreign tourists.

Not only having geological value, Nam Kar volcano is also associated with the cultural life of indigenous ethnic communities such as M'nong, Ede... M'nong people in the area still pass on to each other the story of the formation of Nam Kar volcano. Legend has it that in the past, on the top of the mountain there was a vast lake with lots of fish and green grass. Knowing this, a young man came to catch fish to grill and eat without knowing that these were fish raised by gods. Therefore, after eating the grilled fish, the young man felt itchy all over his body and his face gradually deformed, with very large ears and a very long nose, a big belly, and a muscular body like an elephant. Because he was a human transformed into an elephant, he ate very well, and the villagers did not have enough rice to feed him. The village elders and shamans immediately cooked sticky rice, corn, beans, and cassava and spread them on bamboo leaves to lure the elephant to eat. Wherever the elephant ate, the shaman recited a spell to remind the elephant that this was its food.

Today, the crater of this volcano still has water and a lot of fish living and the local people still keep the name of this mountain as Nam Kar (meaning fish mountain). The legend of Nam Kar volcano is also the story of the elephant that the M'nong people often tell in epics to remind and educate their children not to arbitrarily encroach on natural resources. With its pristine beauty, unique geological value and depth of indigenous culture, Nam Kar volcano is not only a treasure of nature but also a typical destination in the journey to explore Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark - where the ancient fire flows still silently tell stories in the Central Highlands today.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/ve-dep-nui-lua-nam-kar-386603.html