Erta Ale

Erta Ale
Erta Ale in May 2008
Elevation	613 m (2,011 ft) [1]
Listing	List of volcanoes in Ethiopia
Location
Erta Ale Afar Depression, Afar Region, Ethiopia
Range	Erta Ale Range
Coordinates	13°36′N 40°40′E / 13.6°N 40.667°E / 13.6; 40.667Coordinates: 13°36′N 40°40′E / 13.6°N 40.667°E / 13.6; 40.667[2]
Geology
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 badlands desert area spanning the border with Eritrea, and the volcano itself is surrounded completely by an area below sea level,^{[citation needed]} making it a relatively low-elevation volcano.

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.^[3]

Erta Ale means "smoking mountain" in the local Afar language and its southernmost pit is known locally as "the gateway to hell". In 2009 it was mapped by a team from the BBC using three dimensional laser techniques.^[4] 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.^[5] There was further lava flow in August 2007, forcing the evacuation of hundreds and leaving two missing.^[6] An eruption on 4 November 2008 was reported by scientists at Addis Ababa University.^[7] Not much is known about Erta Ale as the surrounding terrain is some of the most inhospitable on earth and the native Afar people have a legendary reputation for viciousness towards outsiders; one travel guide recommends hiring "one or maybe two armed guards or police" to visit Erta Ale.^[8] However, they welcomed and helped a team from BBC.^[9]

The lava lake on Erta Ale was recently shown briefly during the 2010 movie Clash of the Titans during the journey sequence where Perseus travels to the underworld.

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  The lava lake in the caldera of Erta Ale.

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  Erta Ale volcano (EA) and Ethiopian Highlands (EH) as seen from space

See also

• Erta Ale Range
• Geography of Ethiopia
• List of volcanoes in Ethiopia

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Erta Ale, Ethiopia". Volcano World. http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/img_erta_ale.html. Retrieved 2007-08-08. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Erta Ale". Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0201-08=. Retrieved 2009-02-22. 
3. ^ "Episode 1: The Horn of Africa". On the Volcanoes of the World. The Science Channel. Retrieved on 24 December 2010.
4. ^ Hottest Place On Earth, Episode 2 at bbc.co.uk
5. ^ "Focus on Ethiopia, September 2005", UN-OCHA . Retrieved 25 February 2009.
6. ^ "Fears after volcano in Ethiopia". BBC News. 2007-08-15. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6948138.stm. Retrieved 2007-08-15. 
7. ^ "Volcano erupts in Ertale volcanic area of Afar Region", Ethiopian News Agency website . Retrieved 20 January 2010.
8. ^ Briggs, Philip; Brian Blatt (2009). Ethiopia: the Bradt Travel Guide (Fifth ed.). Chalfont St Peter: Bradt Travel Guides. p. 313. ISBN 9781841622842. 
9. ^ Staff writers (19 March 2009). "Inside the hottest place on Earth". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7950845.stm. Retrieved 24 December 2010. 

External links

• Photos from an expedition in Nov and Dec 2009
• Photos from an expedition to Erta Ale and the Danakil in Feb. 2008
• (French) Photos of Erta Ale: Expedition Nov 2006
• BBC article about Erta Ale