Shala

Caldera in Ethiopia

Key Facts

Elevation

2,075 m (6,808 ft)

Type

Caldera

Location

7.457°, 38.557°

Region

Main Ethiopian Rift Volcanic Province

Rock Type

Rhyolite

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

The Shala (also known as O'a) caldera along the central Main Ethiopian Rift forms the eastern portion of the 15 x 25 km Lake Shala. Formation of the caldera about 240,000 years ago was accompanied by the eruption of two ignimbrite deposits, the first of which was strongly welded. The only post-caldera activity consists of two pyroclastic cones to the N, one silicic and the other basaltic, and a group of tuff rings, spatter cones, and lava flows of Holocene age near the SW shore of the lake.

These were erupted along the Corbetti-Shalla segment of the Wonji Fault Belt, which extends N from Corbetti caldera. Fumarolic activity continues on all sides of the lake.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

Pyroclastic flows and surges
Large explosive eruptions (VEI 4+)
Ash fall and tephra deposits
Lahars and debris flows

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

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

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: 221280
•Evidence: Evidence Credible
•Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

The eastern (right) side of the darker Lake O'a (Lake Shalla) forms the 17-km-wide O'a caldera. Post-caldera activity produced cones N of the caldera. The small light blue-green Chitu maar on the W side of the lake was erupted in an area of Holocene vents along the Corbetti-Shalla fissure system extending N from Corbetti caldera. Fumarolic activity continues along the S and E shores.

NASA International Space Station image ISS001-363-7, 2001 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).