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Volcano Tourism in Ethiopia and the Danakil Rift Zone 47

Figure 3.1 Part of the crater wall is collapsing into Erta Ale’s active lava pit
Source: Jens Edelmann
Pastori (Barberi and Varet, 1970; LeGuern et al, During visits, the movement of the lake’s crust
1979). A significant change in the volcanic activity can be easily observed. This is often likened to a
of the Erta Ale summit caldera from the 1960s small-scale model of plate tectonics. Molten lava
until today has been documented. frequently bursts out through the crust, resulting
Since the observations of LeGuern et al in in often persistent small lava fountains that may be
1967–68, lava lake activity at Erta Ale has clearly observed wandering across the surface of the lake.
shifted from the former large eruptive centre in Occasionally, abrupt changes in the level of the
the northern pit to the smaller southern one. This lake may be observed, often accompanied by
is the place where a lava lake can be observed heightened activity. These fountains lead to the
today. However, activity at the northern pit formation of ‘Pelee’s hair’, thin filaments of basaltic
appears to be increasing again. Whilst it only magma, which are carried out of the crater in the
showed strong fumarolic activity in November hot sulphurous gases rising from within. Deposits
2002, active spatter cones were observed therein of these are found strewn around its rim. Pelee’s
in February 2009 (Weber et al, 2009). In November hair and the intense gases themselves present a
2002, the lava lake was situated about 85 metres hazard to the eyes and lungs of visitors, together
deep in the western side of the southern pit, with with the ever-present risk that parts of the rim
a distance down from the rim to the crater terrace may fall into the crater.
on the eastern side of about 45 metres. In 2009
the lava lake surface was surprisingly on a much Dallol
higher level (Figure 3.3), and the crater terrace Dallol volcano is located in the Danakil Depression
was covered with fresh lava. These observations in north-eastern Ethiopia, in a remote area subject
show the vitality of the outstanding volcanic to the highest average temperatures on the planet.
system of Erta Ale. The volcano encompasses Dallol mountain (which

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