Lake Nyos, in Cameroon, is a thermally stratified lake that is saturated with CO2 (g). The gas usually remains on the bottom of the lake, in the coldest layer, and is relatively stable. In 1986, at least 300,000 tons of CO2 were suddenly released from the lake. The gas flowed into a nearby valley and displaced all the air, suffocating 1700 people and 3500 livestock.
We recreate this phenomenon with candles and dry ice.
