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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

    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: 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/).

    Basic Information

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