Erta Ale volcano (Ethiopia): summit lava lake is refilling

Fri, 19 Jun 2020, 09:01 | BY: T

Satellite image of Erta Ale volcano showing the heat signal from its summit lava lake

There are signs that the volcano's famous lava lake is increasing again. The lake is contained in the main (southern) pit crater inside the summit caldera of the vast shield volcano, located in one of the most remote places of the Danakil depression in the Afar triangle.
Recent satellite imagery shows a significant hot spot from the crater, due to the presence of lava accumulating there as the new lava lake.
There are no signs of lava effusing from the fissure vents on the volcano's southern and SE slopes active during 2017-19, which confirms that this lateral eruption has ended for good. This in turn would favor the reformation of the summit lava lake as magma rising inside no longer is being drained on the flank, but uses the central conduit to form a lake in the summit area.

Visiting the volcano
Hopefully, current travel restrictions still in place will soon be lifted, so it will again be possible to visit the country and bring small groups to the volcano in the frame of our volcano expeditions to Ethiopia.

All news about: Erta Ale volcano
Information about: Erta Ale volcano

Previous news

Wed, 17 Jun 2020, 06:00

Erta Ale volcano (Ethiopia) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 17 June-23 June 2020 (New Activity / Unrest)

Satellite data showed a minor thermal anomaly in Erta Ale's S pit crater on 12 June and a larger anomaly on 17 June at the site of the previous lava lake. ... Read all

Mon, 19 Aug 2019, 11:07

Erta Ale volcano (Danakil, Ethiopia) activity update: new surface lava flows 3-4 km SE from summit caldera

Satellite image of Erta Ale from 17 Aug 2019 showing the areas of new lava flows at the surface (image: Sentinal-hub)

A series of relatively large lava surface flows is visible on recent satellite images, in locations between 3-4 km SE from the summit caldera. ... Read all

Tue, 9 Jul 2019, 07:39

Erta Ale volcano (Danakil, Ethiopia) activity update: continuing flank eruption

Satellite image of Erta Ale from yesterday with hot spots on the SE flank and at the summit (image: Sentinel Hub)

No significant changes have occurred at the volcano during the past weeks. The flank eruption (which had started in early 2017) is still going on, gradually enlarging the vast new lava flow field on the southern and eastern flanks. ... Read all

Thu, 30 May 2019, 15:09

Erta Ale volcano (Danakil, Ethiopia): new fissure eruption on lower ESE flank

Satellite image of Erta Ale from yesterday shows a new hot spot (possible area with new lava flows) on the ESE flank (image: Sentinal-hub)

A satellite image taken yesterday shows a new hot spot on the SES flank, at about 12 km distance from the summit caldera. Following the report of a possible eruption from the Afdera region, this is likely the area in question and thus becomes a report of Erta Ale volcano instead. ... Read all

Fri, 12 Oct 2018, 08:28

Erta Ale (Ethiopia): summit lava lake revives as activity at flank eruption site slows down

Daytime view of the active lava lake is often obscured by strong degassing (image: Enku Mulugetu, September 2018)

Our Ethiopian expedition organiser Enku made a reconnaissance trip to Erta Ale in September and reported the current status of this continuously changing active volcano. It appears that over summer the lava lake in the summit crater slowly rose and remains very active, but that the fissure eruption at the volcano's south flank (which started during the dramatic change of volcanic activity mid January 2017) slowed down. ... Read all

Wed, 25 Jul 2018, 15:54

Erta Ale (Ethiopia) : activity continues both at the summit and the 2017 flank eruption site

The lava lake inside the Southern Crater of Erta Ale’s summit caldera, shown here on 26 June 2018, is slowly rising and growing (image: Rebecca Wu)

Danakil expedition organiser Enku reports after our recent tour to this Ethiopian shield volcano that activity continues both at Erta Ale's summit caldera and the fissure eruption site on its SE flank with sustained lava lakes. ... Read all

Tue, 17 Jul 2018, 16:50

Danakil Depression (Ethiopia): Peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea increases safety of volcano expeditions

Observing the nighttime glow of Erta Ale's active lava lake

Although visitor numbers increased significantly over the past years, the active lava lake of Erta Ale volcano and unique colourful scenery of Dallol's hydrothermal fields remained more risky travel destinations due to their proximity to Ethiopia's border with Eritrea. The decades long violent conflict between the two countries included the killing of 5 and kidnapping of 2 tourists visiting Erta Ale in January 2012. Following this deadly incident new safety measures involved military presence at all times on Erta Ale's summit as well as armed Afar escorts for anyone traveling in these parts of the Danakil depression. Increased security made adventure travellers return to this one-off destination which recently saw a large increase in visitors as well as documentary coverage. The region will undoubtedly become even more popular now that the 8 July 2018 peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea unexpectedly made an end to one of Africa's longest running conflicts. ... Read all

Sat, 16 Dec 2017, 08:58

Erta Ale volcano update: security and volcanic activity

Observers at the edge of Erta Ale´s summit lava lake around dawn, November 2015 (photo: Ingrid Smet - VolcanoAdventures)

Our Danakil expedition organiser and tour guide Enku has returned from a short visit to Erta Ale and informed us about both the security situation on the volcano as its activity at the summit. ... Read all

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Erta Ale volcano (Ethiopia): summit lava lake is refilling

Previous news

Erta Ale volcano (Ethiopia) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 17 June-23 June 2020 (New Activity / Unrest)

Erta Ale volcano (Danakil, Ethiopia) activity update: new surface lava flows 3-4 km SE from summit caldera

Erta Ale volcano (Danakil, Ethiopia) activity update: continuing flank eruption

Erta Ale volcano (Danakil, Ethiopia): new fissure eruption on lower ESE flank

Erta Ale (Ethiopia): summit lava lake revives as activity at flank eruption site slows down

Erta Ale (Ethiopia) : activity continues both at the summit and the 2017 flank eruption site

Danakil Depression (Ethiopia): Peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea increases safety of volcano expeditions

Erta Ale volcano update: security and volcanic activity

Erta Ale volcano (Ethiopia): German tourist killed - probably by accident

Erta Ale volcano update: Erta Ale (Ethiopia) activity update: continued strong activity at flank eruption site

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