Boset
Stratovolcano(es) in Ethiopia
Key Facts
Elevation
2,447 m (8,028 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano(es)
Location
8.558°, 39.475°
Region
Main Ethiopian Rift Volcanic Province
Rock Type
Rhyolite
Tectonic Setting
Rift zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
The Boset volcanic complex includes the Boset-Gudda (Great Boset) and Boset-Bericha (Little Boset) composite volcanoes rising above the floor of the Ethiopian Rift valley. Initial basaltic-to-trachytic activity at Gudda followed by rhyolitic effusive and explosive eruptions resulted in the formation of a caldera, a remnant of whose rim is found on the NW flank. Elsewhere, post-caldera activity produced very recent pantelleritic obsidian fissure-fed lava domes and flows that buried the caldera wall.
Flank eruptions from fissures parallel to the rift produced voluminous pantelleritic lava flows. Bericha has produced similar very recent obsidian flows and associated pumice flows. Fissures connecting the edifices have erupted basaltic lava flows.
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 Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 221210
- •Evidence: Evidence Credible
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The Gudda and Bericha edifices comprise the Boset volcanic complex, one of the largest volcanoes within the northern Main Ethiopia Rift at 17 x 20 km in extent. The main edifices are in the lower left quarter of this November 2019 Planet Labs satellite image monthly mosaic with darker, younger lava flows on the flanks and to the NE at Kone (N is at the top; this image is approximately 39 km across). The Boset-Gudda) cone forms the SW potion, and the Boset-Bericha cone is NE.
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.