Dofen
Shield in Ethiopia
Key Facts
Elevation
1,151 m (3,776 ft)
Type
Shield
Location
9.350°, 40.130°
Region
Main Ethiopian Rift Volcanic Province
Rock Type
Rhyolite
Tectonic Setting
Rift zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
The Dofen shield volcano rises 450 m above the Awash plain in the northern Main Ethiopian Rift. Numerous cinder cones, constructed along a 10-km-long, N-S-trending line, occur on the flanks of the dominantly rhyolitic volcano. The northern cones are younger, have well-preserved morphologies, and display strong fumarolic activity.
A major fumarole in a wide S-flank crater has precipitated large amounts of sulfur. The latest eruptions occurred during the Holocene (WoldeGabriel 1987, pers. comm.
), and it is known as the "smoking mountain".
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: 221180
- •Evidence: Evidence Credible
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
Lava flows form the southern flank of the Dofan volcanic massif, NW of a bend in the Hauash River, in the center of this December 2019 Planet Labs satellite image monthly mosaic (N is at the top, this image is approximately 20 km across). An undated darker lava flow above the center of this image erupted from a vent on the N flank.
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.