Ayelu
Stratovolcano in Ethiopia
Key Facts
Elevation
2,145 m (7,037 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
10.082°, 40.702°
Region
Main Ethiopian Rift Volcanic Province
Rock Type
Rhyolite
Tectonic Setting
Rift zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Ayelu is a vegetated rhyolitic stratovolcano, located south of the Asbahri plain in the southern Afar region. On its eastern side, 2145-m-high Ayelu is cut by regional faults and is overlain by ignimbrites erupted from Adwa volcano immediately to the east. It was constructed by a series of thick rhyolitic lava flows, creating a higher and steeper-sided volcano than Adwa.
Hot springs are located on the western flank.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows
- Lava flows
- Volcanic bombs and ballistics
- Lahars and mudflows
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 | Unknown | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 221160
- •Evidence: Evidence Credible
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
Ayelu is the westernmost and older of two volcanoes at the southern end of the Danakil depression. The vegetated volcano is cut by prominent regional faults. Hot springs occur on its W flank. Extensive young basaltic lava flows cover the flanks of Adwa volcano and overlap a sedimentary plain to the SE.
Photo by Giday Wolde-Gabriel (Los Alamos National Laboratory).
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.