Mat Ala
Shield in Ethiopia
Key Facts
Elevation
493 m (1,617 ft)
Type
Shield
Location
13.106°, 41.161°
Region
Afar Rift Volcanic Province
Rock Type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Tectonic Setting
Rift zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Mat Ala is a low shield volcano in the southern Tat Ali Range, east of Afderà volcano. A 300-m-deep, 2. 5 x 3.
5 km wide caldera is found at the summit of the volcano, whose flanks are cut by numerous N-S-trending faults. Mat Ala has been active during the Holocene, and fumarolic activity occurs along a fissure SW of the volcano.
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: 221105
- •Evidence: Evidence Credible
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The elongated N-S-trending volcanic chain below and to the right of turquoise-colored Lake Afrera includes the Tat Ali complex at the N and the Mat Ala at the S. Mat Ala contains a small 2.5 x 3.5 km wide caldera visible as a small light-colored dot near the southern end of the chain in this NASA Space Shuttle image. To the SW of Lake Afrera is Afderà volcano and Alayta volcano with its extensive dark-colored lava flows is farther to the west.
NASA Space Shuttle image S-19-35, 1984 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).
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.