Bir Borhut
Volcanic field in Yemen
Key Facts
Elevation
464 m (1,522 ft)
Type
Volcanic field
Location
15.515°, 50.935°
Region
Southwest Arabia Volcanic Province
Rock Type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Tectonic Setting
Intraplate
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Near the villages of Hleime and Al Ghayl, along the Wadi Hadhramout valley about 45 km from the coast of Yemen, is what appears to be a pyroclastic volcanic cone and extensive dark lava flows. Although Theodore Bent did not reach the volcano while traveling through the region in 1894, he described it as a solfataric area and source of brimstone. Arabic reports exist of an active volcano in eastern Hadramaut that erupted in the 10th century; emissions were reported in 1813 (Neumann van Padang, 1963).
Geologic maps of the Arabian Peninsula show Quaternary mafic volcanic rocks in this area, which lies south and west of the Wadi al Masilah river valley. Small cones are present in the coastal lava fields, including a cone with two craters about 10 km NE of the town of Qusay'ir.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
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 Arabia-Central Asia Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 231180
- •Evidence: Evidence Uncertain
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The Bir Borhut volcanic field in southern Yemen is shown in this December 2019 Planet Labs satellite image monthly mosaic (N is at the top; this image is approximately 104 km across). The field contains scoria cones, tuff rings and cones, mars, and lava flows. The At-Tabâb maar is SE of the lava field along the coastline.
Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2019 (https://www.planet.com/).
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.