Erta Ale, Shield volcano in Kilbet Rasu, Ethiopia
Erta Ale rises 613 meters above sea level in the Danakil Depression, featuring a caldera that measures 1700 by 600 meters with multiple pit craters.
The volcano has maintained an active lava lake since 1906, making it one of the longest-documented continuous volcanic activities in recorded scientific observations.
In the Afar language, the name translates to 'Smoking Mountain', reflecting the local population's perception of this geological formation through generations.
Access requires a challenging 10-kilometer trek from Dodom base camp, typically undertaken at night to avoid extreme daytime temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
The persistent lava lake at Erta Ale remains one of only eight known active lava lakes on Earth, providing insights into ongoing volcanic processes.
Location: Kilbet Rasu
Elevation above the sea: 613 m
Made from material: basalt
Part of: Great Rift Valley
GPS coordinates: 13.60300,40.66340
Latest update: June 17, 2025 18:50
This collection brings together active volcanoes located on multiple continents, from Cotopaxi in the Ecuadorian Andes to Mount Fuji in Japan, including Vesuvius in Italy and Mauna Loa in Hawaii. Each site demonstrates different geological processes: stratovolcanoes like Mount Saint Helens and Etna produce explosive eruptions, while Hawaiian shield volcanoes generate flowing lava that can travel long distances. The selection also includes sites that have marked history through their destructive power, such as Krakatoa, whose 1883 eruption caused tens of thousands of casualties, or Vesuvius, which buried Pompeii and Herculaneum in AD 79. Other volcanoes like Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull have recently shown their ability to disrupt human activities globally. These locations offer insight into how volcanic activity shapes landscapes and influences nearby populations.
Ethiopia offers photographers a range of subjects from medieval architecture to geologically active zones. In the north, Lalibela features eleven churches carved from solid tuff rock during the 12th and 13th centuries, while Axum holds obelisks from the Aksumite Empire that flourished from the 1st to 10th centuries. The Gheralta region of Tigray contains dozens of churches built into cliff faces, accessible via steep trails.The landscape extends from the peaks of the Simien Mountains, rising above 15,000 feet (4,500 meters), to the Danakil Depression, one of the lowest and hottest places on Earth. Bale Mountains National Park supports Ethiopian wolves in afroalpine moorlands, while Awash National Park features acacia woodlands and hot springs. The walled city of Harar Jugol, with its 368 lanes and 82 mosques dating from the 16th century, displays Islamic architecture. The monasteries on Lake Tana islands hold manuscripts from the 14th to 18th centuries, and in Gondar, Fasil Ghebbi documents Ethiopian rule through its 17th and 18th century palaces and churches.
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