Dama Ali
Shield in Ethiopia
Key Facts
Elevation
1,068 m (3,504 ft)
Type
Shield
Location
11.280°, 41.630°
Region
Main Ethiopian Rift Volcanic Province
Rock Type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Tectonic Setting
Rift zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Dama Ali is a broad 25-km-wide shield volcano that rises above the NW shore of Lake Abbe in eastern Ethiopia. Nested circular craters are located at the summit of the dominantly basaltic volcano, which also displays an older caldera rim. An arcuate chain of rhyolitic lava domes occupies the northern, western, and southern flanks.
Youthful basaltic lava flows surround these domes and cover the flanks, and recent flows also cover the young sediments of the Kalo and Abhe basins. The Asmara basaltic pyroclastic cone located in the southern Kalo basin SW of the base of the volcano was considered to have had activity during the last 2,000 years (IAVCEI, 1973). It is considered the most likely source of an eruption reported to have occurred in 1631 (Gouin, 1979).
Major fumarolic activity occurs in the summit crater, and abundant hot springs are found on the volcano.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
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 | 395 years ago | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 221141
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
Dama Ali is a broad shield volcano that rises above the NW shore of Lake Abhe (right) at the S end of the Kalo Plain and was the most likely source of an eruption reported to have occurred in 1631. Nested circular craters are located at the summit and an arcuate chain of rhyolitic lava domes can be seen on the N, W, and S flanks. Major fumarolic activity occurs in the summit crater and abundant hot springs occur on the volcano.
NASA Landsat image, 1999 (courtesy of Hawaii Synergy Project, Univ. of Hawaii Institute of Geophysics & Planetology).
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.