Erta Ale Volcano

 

Erta Ale Volcano is an active basaltic shield volcano located in Afar Region of Ethiopia. It remains the most active volcano in Ethiopia at 613 metres in height. It is notable for the longest-existing lava lake and it is one of the most inhospitable locations on earth.

Location:	Afar Region, Ethiopia
Coordinates:	13.607581, 40.661734
Volcano Type:	Basaltic Shield

 

Erta Ale’s Location:

 

Erta Ale’s Latest Status

2026: Some degassing, however no lava is present at this time.

 

Erta Ale’s Eruptive History

2025	Satellite imagery from late Nov revealed that the Hayli Gubbi eruption blanketed Erta Ale in ash and formed a new collapse pit in its northern caldera.
2024	Incredible overflow of lava in the southern crater. Activity also persists in the northern crater.
2023	Activity is present in both the southern and northern craters
2022	Small lava lake in the southern crater.
2021	Satellite data shows ongoing thermal anomalies
2018	November – active lava present again
2018	September – no active lava present (observed during expedition)
2017	New eruptive vent observed outside of the main summit caldera
1967-2017	Ongoing eruptive activity
Previous-1967	Eruptions in 1906 and 1940. Little other information known.

 

Erta Ale Monitoring

Not available for this volcano.

 

Erta Ale Images