Aluto

Stratovolcano in Ethiopia

Last Eruption: 1550

Key Facts

Elevation

2,335 m (7,661 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

7.770°, 38.780°

Region

Main Ethiopian Rift Volcanic Province

Rock Type

Rhyolite

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

Aluto, between lakes Zway and Langano (Mirrga), is a stratovolcano with multiple vents aligned along NNE-SSW and E-W fissures along a narrow graben between the two lakes. This silicic volcanic center lies along the regional Wonji Fault Belt and has produced abundant pumice-flow and pumice-fall deposits, along with lesser rhyolitic lava flows. Obsidian lava flows erupted from craters along the fissures have descended the flanks in all directions.

Cinder cones, lava domes, phreatic explosion craters, and thermal springs are structurally controlled. The oldest known eruptions produced the Hulo-Seyno Ignimbrite about 155,000 years ago. The latest eruptions produced obsidian flows and pumice breccias about 2,000 years ago.

Eruptive products overlie recent basaltic lava flows to the west. Strong fumarolic activity continues.

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

Eruption Dated

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	476 years ago	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: 221270
•Evidence: Eruption Dated
•Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

Alutu volcano lies between the light-brown Lake Mirrga (Lake Langano) to the S and green-blue Lake Zway to the N. Several craters are aligned along NNE-SSW and E-W fissures. Dark-colored obsidian lava flows erupted from craters along the fissures and descended the flanks in all directions. Although the age of the most recent eruption is not known, its eruptive products overlie recent basaltic lava flows to the W and strong fumarolic activity continues.

NASA International Space Station image ISS001-363-7, 2001 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).