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Korath Range

Tuff cone(s) in Ethiopia

Key Facts

Elevation

912 m (2,992 ft)

Type

Tuff cone(s)

Location

5.117°, 35.892°

Region

Kenyan Rift Volcanic Province

Rock Type

Trachybasalt / Tephrite Basanite

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

The Korath Range is an isolated group of about 20 tuff cones and lava flows in southern Ethiopia that were erupted along the Turkana Rift, which extends north from Kenya. Many of the cones issued lava flows from their flanks that traveled up to about 5 km. The apparent youngest flow issued from the central crater and flowed through a breach in its rim.

The absolute age of the dominantly basanitic-tephritic lava flows is unknown, but a shell adhering to the youngest flow was radiocarbon dated at 7,900 years before present (BP) (Brown et al. , 1969). Davidson (1983) indicated an age between 30,000 and 7,900-9,500 BP.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

    Risk Level

    Population at RiskModerate
    Infrastructure RiskModerate
    Aviation RiskSignificant

    Geological Composition & Structure

    Rock Types

    Primary
    Trachybasalt / Tephrite Basanite
    Silica Content
    Varied composition

    Tectonic Setting

    Rift zone
    Continental rift or intraplate setting with varied eruptive styles.

    Age & Formation

    Epoch
    Holocene
    Evidence
    Evidence Uncertain

    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: 221320
    • Evidence: Evidence Uncertain
    • Epoch: Holocene

    About the Photo

    The fissure-controlled Korath Range is an isolated group of tuff cones and lava flows in southern Ethiopia that were erupted along the Turkana Rift. The lava flows traveled up to about 5 km with visible lobate margins, most prominently on the W flanks.

    NASA Landsat 7 image (worldwind.arc.nasa.gov)

    Basic Information

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