🌋VolcanoAtlas

Mousa Alli

Stratovolcano in Ethiopia-Eritrea-Djibouti

Key Facts

Elevation

1,993 m (6,539 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

12.469°, 42.404°

Region

Afar Rift Volcanic Province

Rock Type

Rhyolite

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

The Mousa Alli volcanic complex is a large Holocene stratovolcano constructed along the border between Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti. The trachytic-to-rhyolitic volcano is the most prominent topographic feature in this area. Rhyolitic lava domes and lava flows are found in the summit region, which is truncated by a caldera.

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
Rhyolite
Silica Content
High (>68% SiO₂)

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone
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: 221123
  • Evidence: Evidence Credible
  • Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

Mousa Alli volcano dominates the right-hand side of this NASA Landsat image and is located on the border between Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti. This volcano is the most prominent topographic feature in this area and towers above its neighbor to the SW, Manda Inakir, visible at the lower left. Yellow-colored basaltic pyroclastic cones and associated lava flows occupy the SE and NW flanks.

NASA Landsat image, 1999 (courtesy of Hawaii Synergy Project, Univ. of Hawaii Institute of Geophysics & Planetology).

Basic Information

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