Ethiopia · Shield volcano
Mount Alayta
Alayta
- Type
- Shield volcano
- Elevation
- 1496m
- Last eruption
- 1915
- Type
- Shield volcano
- Country
- Ethiopia
- Region
- Eastern Africa / Afar Rift Volcanic Province
- Elevation
- 1496m
- Coordinates
- 12.888, 40.573
- Last eruption
- 1915
- Tectonic setting
- Rift zone / Intermediate crust (15-25 km)
- Landform
- Shield
- Major rock type
- Basalt / Picro-basalt
Geological summary
The massive Alayta shield volcano covers an area of 2700 km2 in the western Danakil depression SW of Lake Afrera. A series of very recent craters is aligned along the NNW-trending axis of the basaltic-to-trachytic shield. The lava field, covered by very fresh flows, was erupted from N-S fissures along the east side of the shield volcano and laps up against the western flank of Afderà volcano. Two historical eruptions that were formerly attributed to Afderà actually originated from Alayta. One of those eruptions, in 1907, produced a large lava flow from a SE-flank vent. Fumarolic activity occurs at two locations in the southern part of the complex.
From Wikipedia
Mount Alayta is an active shield volcano in the Afar Region of Ethiopia. It is part of the Afar Triangle, a highly active volcanic region which includes the adjacent Mount Afdera. Mount Alayta covers an area of 2,700 square kilometers southwest of Lake Afrera. A chain of younger craters are aligned along a north-northwest axis in the basaltic-to-trachytic shield along the east side of the shield volcano, which extends to the western flank of Mount Afdera. The Alayta Lavafeld was formed from a series of north-south fissures. In two areas on the southern side of the volcanic complex, fumaroles can be observed.
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Eruption history
2 recordedGlossaryDetailed timeline
- 1915VEI 2Observed1915-07-02 – end unknown
- 1907VEI 2Observed1907-06-16 – 1907-08-04SE flank
Nearby volcanoes
External links
⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.