Sork Ale
Stratovolcano in Ethiopia-Eritrea
Key Facts
Elevation
1,611 m (5,285 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
13.180°, 41.725°
Region
Afar Rift Volcanic Province
Rock Type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Tectonic Setting
Rift zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Sork Ale is a silicic stratovolcano located in the Danakil horst SW of Dubbi volcano. Also known as Asdaga, it was constructed perpendicular to the NE-SW orientation of three larger stratovolcanoes (Nabro, Mallahle, and Asavyo) with which it forms the Bidu Volcanic Complex at the southern end of the Danakil Alps. A small, roughly 1-km-wide, 300-m-deep steep-walled caldera is found at the summit.
Basaltic lava flows are prominent on the E side of the volcano, and satellite vents are located on the SE flank. The International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (1973) listed Sork Ale as probably active during the last 2000 years, but Wood (1980, pers. comm.
) considered Holocene activity unlikely. The flanks are extensively dissected on the SW to NE sides, but less dissected flows form the eastern-to-southern flanks.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows
- Lava flows
- Volcanic bombs and ballistics
- Lahars and mudflows
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: 221103
- •Evidence: Evidence Uncertain
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The roughly 1-km-wide caldera is located at the western side of the dark-colored lava field, at the summit of Sork Ale volcano (at the center of this NASA Landsat image, N is at the top). This stratovolcano, also known as Asdaga, is located perpendicular to the orientation of three larger stratovolcanoes trending NE-SW at the southern end of the Danakil Alps. The ages of recent eruptions are not certain.
NASA Landsat image, 1999 (courtesy of Hawaii Synergy Project, Univ. of Hawaii Institute of Geophysics & Planetology).
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.