Erta Ale
| Erta Ale | |
|---|---|
 Erta Ale in May 2008 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 613 m (2,011 ft)[1] |
| Listing | List of volcanoes in Ethiopia |
| Coordinates | 13°36′N 40°40′E / 13.600°N 40.667°E[2] |
| Geography | |
| Location | Afar Depression, Afar Region, Ethiopia |
| Parent range | Erta Ale Range |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Shield volcano |
| Last eruption | 2010 (continuing)[2] |
Erta Ale is a continuously active basaltic shield volcano in the Afar Region of northeastern Ethiopia, the most active volcano in Ethiopia. It is in the Afar Depression, a badlandish desert area spanning the border with Eritrea, and the volcano itself is surrounded completely by an area below sea level, making it one of the lowest volcanoes in the world.
Erta Ale is 613 metres (2,011 ft) high, with one or sometimes two active lava lakes at the summit which occasionally overflow on the south side of the volcano.[1] It is notable for being the longest-existing lava lake, present since the early years of the twentieth century (1906). Volcanoes with lava lakes are very rare: there are only five in the world.
Erta Ale means "smoking mountain" in the local Afar language and its southernmost pit is known locally as "the gateway to hell". It has recently been mapped by a team from the BBC using three dimensional laser techniques.[3] As the lakes have searingly hot temperatures laser scanning, which can map any surface at a distance, was used.
There was a major eruption on 25 September 2005 which killed 250 head of livestock and forced thousands of nearby residents to flee.[4] There was further lava flow in August 2007, forcing the evacuation of hundreds and leaving two missing.[5] An eruption on 4 November 2008 was reported by scientists at Addis Ababa University.[6] Not much is known about Erta Ale as the surrounding terrain is some of the worst on earth and the native Danakil people are not friendly[citation needed].
The lava lake on Erta Ale was recently shown beliefly during the 2010 movie Clash of the Titans during the journey sequence where Persius travels to the underworld.
See also
References
- ^ a b "Erta Ale, Ethiopia". Volcano World. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
{{cite web}}: External link in|work= - ^ a b "Erta Ale". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ^ Hottest Place On Earth, Episode 2 at bbc.co.uk
- ^ "Focus on Ethiopia, September 2005", UN-OCHA (accessed 25 February 2009)
- ^ "Fears after volcano in Ethiopia". BBC News. 2007-08-15. Retrieved 2007-08-15.
- ^ "Volcano erupts in Ertale volcanic area of Afar Region", Ethiopian News Agency website (accessed 20 January 2010)
External links
- Nice photos from an expedition in Nov / Dec 2009
- Photos from an expedition to Erta Ale and the Danakil in Feb. 2008
- Template:Fr Photos of Erta Ale: Expedition Nov 2006
- 2005 Expedition into the crater of Erta Ale
- BBC article about Erta Ale
