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Melkassa

Volcanic field in Ethiopia

Key Facts

Elevation

1,765 m (5,791 ft)

Type

Volcanic field

Location

8.430°, 39.350°

Region

Main Ethiopian Rift Volcanic Province

Rock Type

Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Tectonic Setting

Intraplate

Location

Loading map...

Overview

The Melkassa (or Sodore) volcanic field is an extensive 15 x 25 km group of about 30 Pleistocene and Holocene pyroclastic cones and lava flows that covers the floor of the E side of the Ethiopian Rift Valley, around the town of Melkassa, between the Boset volcanic complex and Gedamsa caldera.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

    Risk Level

    Population at RiskModerate
    Infrastructure RiskModerate
    Aviation RiskSignificant

    Geological Composition & Structure

    Rock Types

    Primary
    Basalt / Picro-Basalt
    Silica Content
    Low (45-52% SiO₂)

    Tectonic Setting

    Intraplate
    Continental rift or intraplate setting with varied eruptive styles.

    Age & Formation

    Epoch
    Holocene
    Evidence
    Evidence Credible

    Eruption Statistics & Analysis

    MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
    Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
    Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
    Recent ActivityUnknownHistoricalHistorically 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: 221222
    • •Evidence: Evidence Credible
    • •Epoch: Holocene

    About the Photo

    The Melkassa volcanic field is an extensive 15 x 25 km wide group of Pleistocene and Holocene cones and lava flows within the Ethiopian Rift Valley. The darker lava flows are visible in this 10 November 2019 Sentinel-2 satellite image, NE of Gedemsa caldera (N is at the top; this image is approximately 23 km across).

    Satellite image courtesy of Copernicus Sentinel Data, 2019.

    Authority Sources

    Smithsonian GVP
    Official volcano database
    USGS Volcano Hazards
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Global Volcanism Program
    Smithsonian Institution

    Related Volcanoes

    In Ethiopia:
    All Japan Volcanoes
    105 active volcanoes
    By Type:
    Caldera Volcanoes
    Large collapse features
    By Region:
    Kuril Volcanic Arc
    Subduction zone volcanoes

    Basic Information

    This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.