The Barrier Volcanic Complex is made of four different volcanic
centers. It runs east to west between Lake Turkana and Lake Logipi.
Barrier is ~12.5 miles (20 km) long and ~9 miles (15 km) wide. These
volcanoes form a natural dam that separates the two lakes.
Tuff cones are very common
on the north and south sides of the
volcanic complex.
These cones, marked with sediments left from lakes, show that Lake Turkana
and Lake Logipi were very high at one time. Much geothermal energy can be
found on and around these volcanoes. There are also many faults located on
the Barrier Volcanic Complex. Barrier has erupted nine times.
Its last eruption was in 1921.
Dunkley, P.N., et al, "The geothermal activity and geology of the northern
sector of the Kenya Rift Valley," British Geological Survey, Research
Report SC/93/1, 185 pp., 1993.
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