Mallahle

Stratovolcano in Ethiopia-Eritrea

Key Facts

Elevation

1,875 m (6,152 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

13.270°, 41.650°

Region

Afar Rift Volcanic Province

Rock Type

Trachyte / Trachydacite

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

Mallahle is the central of three NE-SW-trending stratovolcanoes (along with Asavyo and Nabro) in the Danakil horst SW of Dubbi volcano. These volcanoes, plus Sork'Ale, form the Bidu Volcanic Complex. The volcano is truncated by a steep-walled 6-km-wide caldera, and is formed of rhyolitic lava flows and pyroclastics.

Basaltic lava flows cover the slopes. Recent obsidian flows are found on the NW flank, and older obsidian flows were erupted on the northern caldera floor. Flank spatter and scoria cones are most numerous on the western side of the volcano.

Extensive ignimbrite deposits associated with the collapse of Mallahle and Nabro volcanoes cover the countryside.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

Pyroclastic flows
Lava flows
Volcanic bombs and ballistics
Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskModerate

Infrastructure RiskModerate

Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary

Trachyte / Trachydacite

Silica Content

Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone

Continental rift or intraplate setting with varied eruptive styles.

Age & Formation

Epoch

Holocene

Evidence

Evidence Uncertain

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

Global Volcanism Program

International eruption database

Current Status

Normal

No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

Nearby Volcanoes in Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions

Regional Volcanic Activity

The Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions contains multiple active volcanic systems. Cross-regional magma interactions and tectonic stresses can influence eruption patterns across the entire arc. Monitor regional seismic activity and volcanic alerts.

Quick Info

•Smithsonian ID: 221102
•Evidence: Evidence Uncertain
•Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

The smaller (left-hand) of the two large calderas at the bottom center of this NASA Space Shuttle image is Mallahle. The steep-walled 8-km-wide caldera truncates a stratovolcano. Basaltic lava flows blanket the slopes of the volcano, and flank vents are most numerous on its western side. Mallahle lies SW of the larger Nabro caldera (right-center) and is the central of three NE-SW-trending stratovolcanoes in the Danakil horst SW of Dubbi volcano.

NASA Space Shuttle image S-61A-36, 1985 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).