Ethiopia Erta Ale volcano. Lava lakes of Erta Ale volcano. Erta Ale Research

The activity of the Ethiopian volcano Erta Ale awakened an intense surge of magma and the overflow of one of the lava lakes. The phenomenon lasted until the collapse of the flank eruption, until January 21, The Daily Mail reports. A similar thing was observed in February 2010. Then the level of one lake rose by 30 meters (10 floors), which led to the lake overflowing and scorching lava droplets spreading into the atmosphere.

Scientists explain the event that happened this year as follows: in the area of ​​lava lakes (which are more than one century old), in the Afar Valley, tectonic plates shifted, as a result of which many underground volcanoes were “opened.” And on January 21, 2017, about 7 km from the top of the volcano, new cracks opened, from which burning magma erupted to the surface. It should be noted that since 1906 the lakes have been continuously seething and spraying hot rock into the surrounding areas.

In northeastern Ethiopia, in the remote Afar region, is the Erta Ale volcano ( "Smoking Mountain") is the most active volcano and one of five known to have a lava lake. A unique and only volcano in the world that has two lava lakes at once. The shape of the volcano is basaltic, shield; height - 613 m; mountain system- East African rift valley. Last eruption fixed date 2012

Every year, courageously overcoming all the difficulties of a dangerous journey, about 1000 tourists and researchers reach the crater of the volcano. It is quite difficult to approach the center of the volcano due to the high air temperature - about 50°C - and acidic vapors. But the most amazing thing is that to get to the lava lakes in the crater of the volcano, you need to walk about 13 km.

Volcano Nyiragongo is located in national park Virunga in the Congo on the border with Rwanda. This is one of the most active volcanoes Africa: Since 1882, 34 eruptions have been recorded, including many periods where activity was continuous for many years.

The main crater of the volcano is 250 meters deep and 2 km wide, and a lava lake sometimes forms in it. In terms of the amount of lava, the lake of the Nyiragongo volcano is the most voluminous of the lava lakes today. The depth of the lake largely depends on the activity of the volcano. The maximum observed lava level in the crater reached 3250m.

Nyiragongo lava is unusually liquid and flowing, such features are caused by a special chemical composition - it contains very little quartz. Thus, during an eruption, lava flows flowing along the slope of the volcano can reach speeds of 100 km/h.

Between 1894 and 1977, there was an active lava lake in the crater and on January 10, 1977, when the walls of the crater collapsed, a powerful eruption occurred. It lasted about an hour and claimed 70 lives, wiping out nearby villages, and although the exact number of deaths was impossible to determine, unofficial estimates put them at several thousand.

Today, the eruptions of the Nyiragongo volcano are considered unprecedented, because no other volcano in the world has such steeply inclined walls and a lava lake with such a dangerous composition.

Another major eruption occurred in January 2002. However, fortunately, people were warned about the danger. 400,000 people were evacuated. And yet, many who did not hear about the impending eruption paid dearly for it. 147 people died during the eruption from suffocation and the effects of the earthquake caused by the volcano's activity.

Six months later, Nyiragongo erupted again. The volcano continues to remain active to this day. In June 2012, a team of scientists and intrepid explorers stepped onto the shore of a lava lake boiling in the depths of the Nyiragongo crater. These photographs were taken by Oliver Grunewald during an expedition to Nyiragongo Crater Lake.

general information

The volcano has been continuously active since 1967; at the same time, streams of hot lava periodically pour out of its crater (such volcanoes, formed from layers of spilled lava, are called shield volcanoes). With each of its eruptions it rises higher and higher above the Danakil depression; Now its height is already 613 m.

In 1971, an expedition led by Garun Taziev conducted the first study of the Erta Ale volcano. The gas outlet temperature ranged from 1125 to 1200° C. The thermal radiation power of the lake averaged 30 kilowatts per square meter. The temperature directly in the melt mass was 600° on the surface of the dark crust, and 900° at a depth of 70 centimeters.

In recent years, the Erta Ale volcano has become more unpredictable. If in 2004 the lake in the crater of the volcano turned into a tectonic stronghold, remaining in this state for almost 20 months, then in November 2010 the volcano woke up with unexpected force. The lake continually changes its level and pattern of fiery stripes, and lava flows periodically from it. Since February 2010, the lake level has risen by more than 30 meters, which ultimately led to the overflow of the lake and explosive releases of hot lava droplets into the air from November 2010. The eruption was accompanied by tremors, which significantly affected the condition of the faults in the north. East Africa. Scientists are closely monitoring changes in the volcano's activity, as it is located in an important seismic zone called the Afar Triangle. Noticeable plate shifts and an increase in the width of faults can significantly change geographical map our planet, in particular, affect the entire continent of Africa.

In the northeast of Ethiopia, in the Danakil Desert, is located active volcano Erta Ale, in the crater of which you can see streams of molten lava escaping from the very center of the earth. Due to the constant activity, as a result of which clouds of smoke appear over the surface of the volcano every now and then, the Erta Ale volcano got its name, translated into Russian as “Smoking Volcano”.

Erta Ale is a basalt shield volcano, one of five volcanoes on our planet, in the heart of which there is a lava lake. But only Erta Ale has not one, but two such sites. The tectonic pattern on the surface of the lava lakes of the Erta Ale volcano is constantly changing. Here you can see both long-frozen areas of magma, forming a thin crust, and very fresh, easily destroyed islands. This process is accompanied by chaotic bursts of bright red molten lava and emissions of accumulated gas. According to the chemical composition of Erta Ale magma, it is compared with deep-sea volcanoes located in the middle part mountain range at the bottom of the ocean. In both cases, a low content of silicic acid in the magma is observed.

The volcano has become more unpredictable in recent years. If in 2004 the lake in the crater of the volcano turned into a tectonic stronghold, remaining in this state for almost 20 months, then in November 2010 the volcano woke up with unexpected force. The eruption was accompanied by tremors, which significantly affected the state of the faults in the northeast. Scientists are closely monitoring changes in the volcano's activity, as it is located in an important seismic zone called the Afar Triangle. Noticeable plate shifts and an increase in the width of faults can significantly change the geographical map of our planet, in particular, affect the entire continent of Africa.

From year to year, steadfastly overcoming all the difficulties of a dangerous journey, about 500-1000 tourists and researchers reach the crater of the volcano. Being so close to the center of the volcano is incredibly difficult due to the high air temperature (about 50°C) and acidic fumes. Moreover, to get to the lava lakes in the crater of the volcano, you need to walk about 13 km.

Erta Ale Volcano - PHOTO

Seeing photographs of this volcano, I immediately remembered Volcano Nyiragongo ! Well, look, it’s even easy to confuse them. Perhaps I had seen both volcanoes on the Internet before, I didn’t think that they were the same. Let's take a look at this lake of fire more details!

In the north-east of Ethiopia, in the Danakil Desert, there is an active Erta Ale volcano, in the crater of which you can see streams of molten lava escaping from the very center of the earth. Due to the constant activity, as a result of which clouds of smoke appear over the surface of the volcano every now and then, the Erta Ale volcano got its name, translated into Russian as “Smoking Volcano”.

This is the most inaccessible volcano on the planet. This is not one volcano, but a whole chain called Erta Ale. This is the only volcano in the world that has two lava lakes at once.

Erta Ale is a basalt shield volcano, one of five volcanoes on our planet, in the heart of which there is a lava lake. But only Erta Ale has not one, but two such sites. The tectonic pattern on the surface of the lava lakes of the Erta Ale volcano is constantly changing. Here you can see both long-frozen areas of magma, forming a thin crust, and very fresh, easily destroyed islands. This process is accompanied by chaotic bursts of bright red molten lava and emissions of accumulated gas. The chemical composition of Erta Ale's magma is compared to deep-sea volcanoes located in the middle part of a mountain range on the ocean floor. In both cases, a low content of silicic acid in the magma is observed.

The Afar tectonic basin is a piece of land melted by magma between three tectonic plates. The Danakil Desert is the hottest and most inhospitable desert on the planet. The desert was never hospitable for travelers, especially because of the cruel customs of the Afars; one of their favorite rites was castration.

At the bottom of a huge destroyed crater is the Erta Ale lava lake. The lake is surrounded by faults that were formed by mini tremors that can throw whole chunks out of the lake. The lava in the lake is more seething than that of the Nyiragongo volcano, which also has a lava lake.

A lava lake is a huge accumulation of magma that is gradually mixed by currents. These currents arise from the bowels of the earth and never stop, so the hot magma rises higher, comes to the surface, cools, and sinks again; this process is called convective exchange. Since the lava lake exists for quite a long time for the warm flows that change the lake, it becomes necessary to compensate for the heat loss of the flows on the surface due to their further subsidence. This balance is very fragile and complex. When this balance is disrupted, the lake cools, as happened in 2004. The lake remained in a frozen state for 20 months, it froze, became like soil, and you could walk on it. A lava lake is part of the life of a volcano; Erta Ale did not always have such a lake because it arose under water. Erta Ale grew to its current size in about 3 - 4 million years.

The first evidence of the emergence of a lava lake on Erta Ale dates back to 1890. No one got here then, but thanks to the red reflections, it could be assumed that there was a lava lake at the top. The first explorers appeared here in 1960, by which time there was documented evidence of the presence of a lake of fire.

Here a delicate balance is maintained between the surface of the lake, air temperature and recharge from below. Hot lava rises from the belly, cools, forming a black shell, and immediately rolls down, displaced from its pedestal by a new portion of hot stones rising from below. Sometimes the pressure reaches such proportions that the lake literally explodes, throwing fiery splashes to a height of up to 40 meters.

Approximately every 30 years, the volcano shows its true strength, forcing everyone living in the surrounding area to flee.

The volcano has become more unpredictable in recent years. If in 2004 the lake in the crater of the volcano turned into a tectonic stronghold, remaining in this state for almost 20 months, then in November 2010 the volcano woke up with unexpected force. The eruption was accompanied by tremors that significantly affected the state of faults in northeast Africa. Scientists are closely monitoring changes in the volcano's activity, as it is located in an important seismic zone called the Afar Triangle. Noticeable plate shifts and an increase in the width of faults can significantly change the geographical map of our planet, in particular, affect the entire continent of Africa.

From year to year, steadfastly overcoming all the difficulties of a dangerous journey, about 500-1000 tourists and researchers reach the crater of the volcano. Being so close to the center of the volcano is incredibly difficult due to the high air temperature (about 50°C) and acidic fumes. Moreover, to get to the lava lakes in the crater of the volcano, you need to walk about 13 km.

A few tourists can approach the very edge of the crater; there are no fences or restrictions - it is suggested to use common sense.

The spectacle is mesmerizing, as the lake lives its own life - lava splashes out, solidifies, cracks, breaks, sinks in pieces in fresh magma and all this is accompanied by flashes of glow, a cacophony of sounds and jets of steam.

This is how the blogger describes his trip to the volcano vikaspb :

it's worth it, the impressions you get by standing for half an hour on the edge and looking into the real Hell of the boiling magmatic Lake Erta Ale….

In January 2011, I finally made it to the north of Ethiopia, which I had been dreaming about for almost a year. Getting there is not so easy, and not exactly cheap. To reduce costs, 9 more travel companions were found, 4 vehicles were ordered that could withstand complete off-road conditions, sand, lava fields, and acidic soils.

Almost 3 days of travel…..One car broke down in the sands and had to be abandoned; in the remaining 3, in addition to us, 10, 4 drivers, a guide, 2 cooks, a couple more armed guards were placed for protection ( they would have seated more, but there was no more room, some had to ride on the roof))) and even in the trunk). Before approaching the volcano, we passed a local village in the Afar province, where they paid quite a decent amount for travel through their territory and took 1 more person:

We arrived at the camp at the foot of the volcano quite late, almost 5 pm. We wanted to do it earlier, but due to constant car breakdowns, we lost a lot of time. And we still had to march towards the crater - almost 13.5 km along the lava field! Taking some water, putting on a photo backpack and a tripod, me and two other frisky guys *ran* to the top in 2.5 hours!)))))) By the end we could barely stand our legs, but we were not going to give up the main thing - the hike to the Crater itself .

The spectacle struck us even as we approached......Darkness, the crunch of lava underfoot, constantly looking for a place where you can step and where not (with the light of a flashlight, little is clear), and...a fiery glow over the Crater! The ejection of magma is accompanied by a strong emission of gases, which, illuminated from below, form an unrealistically beautiful plume...

We made our way to this crater for almost an hour, trying to feel *solid* ground in the darkness.....To say that it was scary is to say nothing...To say that it was mortally dangerous is also to say nothing. The risk of this event is 100 percent. It was not easy for us to run across a frozen lava field; we were on the upper thin magmatic crust. And at any moment they could fall into any *pit* with the boiling brew of the Earth. At some point this happened to me - the thin upper layer broke and the knee-deep leg went inside, from where heat wafted out. I almost panicked, because I well remembered my trip to Guatemala, with a hike to the Pacaya volcano, where we wandered 3 meters from the flowing lava, and all the cracks around were glowing with heat. And... thank God, everything worked out....

Crater……

An incredible spectacle of real HELL!! A huge cauldron with gurgling and boiling liquid. Fascinating….attracts….and frightens…..