Adwa
Stratovolcano in Ethiopia
Key Facts
Elevation
1,670 m (5,479 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
10.063°, 40.831°
Region
Main Ethiopian Rift Volcanic Province
Rock Type
Rhyolite
Tectonic Setting
Rift zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Adwa (also known as Aabida, Amoissa, or Dabita), is a broad stratovolcano in the southern Afar area immediately east of the younger vegetated Ayelu volcano. It has a roughly 3 x 4 km caldera that originated following eruption of voluminous ignimbrites, with a trachytic dome extruded in the eastern part of the caldera. Scoria cones are located on the floor of the caldera and on its NW and SW flanks.
Extensive young basaltic lava flows cover the flanks and overlap a sedimentary plain to the SE. Many fumaroles occur within the caldera. Satellitic pyroclastic cones and lava domes were considered to be only a few hundred years old (Mohr 1980, pers.
comm. ). Dark lava flows originating from cones about 4 km from the caldera rim on the SW flank cover more than 50 km2.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows
- Lava flows
- Volcanic bombs and ballistics
- Lahars and mudflows
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
Eruption Statistics & Analysis
| Metric | Value | Global Ranking | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Recorded Eruptions | Unknown | Low | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI Unknown | Minor | Local impact potential |
| Recent Activity | Unknown | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 221170
- •Evidence: Evidence Credible
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
A caldera 4 x 5 km wide cuts the summit of Adwa volcano above the center of this NASA Landsat image with N to the top. This prominent volcano (also known as Aabida, Amoissa, or Dabita) is in the southern Afar area immediately E of Ayelu volcano, which lies above and to the left of the westernmost flank lava flow. These prominent young basaltic lava flows were erupted from vents on the W, E, and S flanks of Adwa volcano and overlap a sedimentary plain to the SE.
NASA Landsat 7 image (worldwind.arc.nasa.gov)
Authority Sources
Related Volcanoes
Basic Information
This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.