Dallol Volcano is the lowest volcano in the world (Ethiopia). Volcanoes of Africa. Amazing Dallol in Ethiopia Dallol Ethiopia on the map
Dallol Volcano- volcanic crater Danakil fault, northeast of Eartha Al Range in. The volcano and the area around it seemed to have come out of the paintings of artists who imagined what Mars or Jupiter might look like.
The Dallol volcano, reminiscent of the planet Jupiter with its unearthly beauty of landscapes, is located in the Afar Valley. It is located 130 meters below sea level. Danakil is the most inhospitable and most hostile desert on the planet, where the soil is literally torn apart by the shaking of the earth's crust.
One of the smallest and strange volcanoes– Dallol is located near a huge salt lake. Lake Karum is located at an altitude of 120 meters, in some places the thickness of the salt layer reaches 1000 and even 2000 meters. But at night, Afar nomads mine salt in Karum; here, even at night, the temperature reaches 52 C. The Dallol volcano is located in the very middle of this salty desert.
Volcano Dallol It is considered the lowest volcano in the world, since its mouth is located at 45 meters below sea level. Secondly, in an ancient manuscript called the “Book of Enoch” this territory is described as a hellish abyss that will soon break into our world and swallow it up. The records contain many references to the end of the world, and the apocalypse will begin precisely with the opening of the gates to the hellish abyss, that is, from the moment of the volcanic eruption.
Most likely, the gate refers to the crater of the volcano. However, since the writing of the Book of Enoch, Dallol has erupted several times, and its last awakening dates back to 1926. However, this eruption was rather weak, so all these prophecies about the end of the world can be attributed to the superstition of ancient people. On at the moment the volcano “fell asleep”, and there is no activity in its crater.
The volcano has a small, gentle cone. Dallol rose thanks to volcanic pressure, it was broken by tectonic shifts, washed away by rains, and blown by the wind. Dallol is a landscape that is constantly forming and in motion. Dallol is an oval dome 2 kilometers long and 1 kilometer wide, its height is 41 meters. The top of the crater is located at an altitude of less than 83 meters, this is a completely atypical volcano. It is assumed that it was formed as a result of the explosion of a magma pocket located at a very shallow depth. The only thing that Dallol has in common with other volcanoes is active craters.
In the vicinity of the volcano, salt crystallizes, amazingly beautiful acidic puddles splash, the beautiful green color of which is given by the acid. Entire acid lakes can appear and disappear here. Multi-colored puddles are water that has oxidized when interacting with magmatic gases.
In July and August, rainwater seeps deeper through cracks in the surface. Penetrating into the depths, it absorbs all the minerals through which it passes and which give it color.
After 4,000 meters it meets magma, boils and oxidizes, and then it comes to the surface in the form of hot thermal springs that penetrate through the salt layers, crystallizes and hardens.
Dallol is a salt dome erected by the power of a volcano. The rocks that appeared in the Dallol Desert are the result of chemical interaction with water. Although Dallol does not look like a volcano, it is a real active volcano. Its last eruption was hidden by geothermal activity, as a result of which deposits of calcareous tuff formed everywhere, gradually hiding the crater underneath. This is a zone of tension, the local terrain is constantly changing, there are many cracks and faults, and every time water gets into these cracks and rises again, it chooses the easiest path, and when new cracks open in other places, it runs along them.
Such an unearthly landscape cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. Dallol has been little studied, it is impossible to stay here for a long time, sweat turns into acid that corrodes the skin and eyes. It is impossible to breathe air saturated with acidic vapors; it stings your nose and lips, and all this in heat up to +58 C in the shade.
Dallol means to dissolve, a very appropriate name for such an unusual place. It is very difficult to stay here for a long time - harmful gases contained in the air, incredible heat, too dry climate, frequent earthquakes and tectonic movements. Gases and concentrated acid come out of the fumaroles. Where the zone is in the drying stage, the acid, increasingly concentrated, flows over a layer of crystallized salts, the air is also increasingly saturated with acidic fumes, and as the heat increases, all the colorful puddles dry up. As long as there is water in the depths, Dallol is also active, when all the rainwater that falls on the mountain plateau evaporates, the whole process will stop.
Dallol is an incredible result of the interaction of water and volcanism. The magma is located at a depth of 3000 meters and the thermal flow is very powerful. The temperature of the acid on the surface reaches 50 - 60 degrees, this is a very aggressive environment.
U eastern border The volcano has no activity, faults or gases, which makes Dallol even more mysterious. This area is riddled with canyons radiating in all directions. The white coating, consisting of anhydrite, protected the thick layer underneath from erosion. Rainwater washes away the salt, leaving only the areas directly covered by this coating.
The volcano is located in Afar region, 1 day's journey from Mekele and 2 days from the main road Addis Ababa-Djibouti. Travelers who are lucky enough to visit Erta Ale consider the Dallol volcano to be one of the most unusual places on the planet.
Dallol is the name of a dormant volcano and a nearby abandoned village in Ethiopia. The Dallol volcano and its surroundings are known as the hottest place on Earth, because... in the period from 1960 to 1966, an absolute record for average annual temperature was set here (+34 ºC). However, record temperatures are not the only thing that the Dallol area is famous for. The fact is that the local landscapes look alien due to potassium salts, manganese, and iron, which are washed onto the surface by hot springs and paint it almost all the colors of the rainbow. Salts, once on the surface, quickly crystallize and solidify into fancy shapes. Sometimes frozen pillars of salt reach 40 meters in height.
Astronomers say that the surface of Io, the satellite of Jupiter, looks approximately the same (Io is the most geologically active celestial body in the Solar System: ash and lava flows from more than 400 active volcanoes color the surface of Io in various shades of yellow, white, red, black and green).
The last time the Dallol volcano erupted was in 1926. Now in the crater of the volcano there is a lake located at an altitude of 48 meters below sea level (this is the lowest land volcano).
Dallol is one of the few places on the planet where potash deposits come directly to the surface. It was estimated that in one spring more than a thousand tons of potassium salts were washed to the surface by water. At the beginning of the 20th century, mining of potassium salts began in the area. At first, the extracted salts were delivered by camel to the sea, but then it was built railway almost to the mining site. However, in 1929, production ceased because The USSR, Germany and the USA began to supply cheaper potash fertilizers to the world market. Since then, several attempts have been made to resume mining in this area, but to no avail. Currently, the village of potassium miners is abandoned; the remains of houses made of walls built from salt blocks, as well as old equipment and tools, are still preserved.
In 2009, the Ethiopian government granted the right to develop a deposit in Dallol to a British company, but the local nomadic Afar people, who consider Dallol their property, protested by attacking Chinese workers who began building a railway and the potash mining project in Dallol was abandoned. The Afar collect salt crystals from Dallol, then cut these crystals into plates, which are then transported by camel for sale to the nearest town, Mekele.
Many people dream of seeing the amazing, unearthly landscape of Dallol in person, but due to the lack of roads, the flow of tourists to this area is still insignificant. The journey from the city of Mekele to Dallol takes one day by car, and this route is not always safe: there are cases of attacks on tourist cars by separatists from the Afar Revolutionary Democratic United Front (ARDUF).
However, you can admire the multi-colored surface in a safer place - the village of Chamarel on the island of Mauritius, and in Turkish Pamukkale you can see beautiful snow-white salt terraces, which were formed in the same way as the surface of Dallol - by leaching mineral salts onto the surface.
Volcano- this is a geological formation, a place where magma comes to the surface. The release of magma is accompanied by the formation of lava, volcanic gases and pyroclastic flows. Separate sciences are responsible for the study of volcanoes - geomorphology and volcanology. Volcanoes are usually classified by type of construction, shape, method of eruption, and other characteristics. But today we will not talk about a simple volcano...
Today we want to tell you about the unusual volcano Dallol which is located in the desert Danakil in the north Ethiopia.
Coordinates:14.241667, 40.300000
Danakil Desert known not only for its famous volcano, but also set a world temperature record. Average annual temperatures for the period 1960 - 1964 are here did not fall below 34 degrees Celsius . Recorded maximum so far remains unbeaten temperature record.
But tourists are attracted not by the hot climate, but by the local attraction - amazing volcano Dallol, which is located at 48 meters below sea level. The volcano is named after a small village of the same name located nearby.
So to whom or what does the Dallol volcano owe its uniqueness and variety of colors?
The answer is simple - of course, chemistry.
Complex chemical processes, occurring underground, release geothermal water, which is a complex mixture of many chemical elements, onto the surface of the Dallol volcano. The main “dyes” here are ions of potassium salts, iron, manganese and sulfur.
Ions of salts and other chemical elements, once on the surface of the earth crystallize, and then completely freeze. This results in the volcano being covered with many rock formations, often not exceeding 40 meters in height.
Additional “cosmic character” of Dallol is provided by endless gas emissions, creating many fumarole (alluviums of thin layers of salts).
Last eruption Dallol volcano was recorded back in 1926. It was accompanied by a large explosion, which resulted in the appearance of a poisonous lake of purple-yellow color. The deceptive shine of the water attracts the inhabitants of the Danakil desert, for whom the vapors of the acidic liquid can be fatal.
To ensure the excursion ends successfully safety precautions must be followed: use special closed shoes with thick soles, use special thick clothing, avoid getting fumes into the respiratory tract, avoid getting “colored water” on the skin.
From year to year, the surface of potassium formations around the crater increases by several thousand tons, which makes it possible extract salts in large quantities.
Once there was even a railway along which British businessmen, using Chinese workers, planned to transport all their products to the sea, from where they could be transported to another continent.
But local residents This option was not suitable, and they made every effort to ensure that their attraction remained untouched. The workers were expelled, and businessmen left the volcano territory forever.
Today you can meet only a few representatives of the people here afar, who are still searching for salt crystals, which they then cut into plates and deliver by camel to the nearest city Mekele for the purpose of sale. This allows them to earn at least some money to feed their family and keep livestock.
By the way, Dallol is one of the poorest settlements in all of Ethiopia.
Local residents believe in the legend that the local Dallol volcano- this is the so-called “gate to hell”. That is why they are trying to protect it from outsiders.
Landscapes Dallol volcano perfect for travel and new experiences, and will also serve as a source for bright and unforgettable photographs!
Dallol Volcano video (Ethiopia, Danakil Desert)
The landscapes of the volcanic crater Dallol, located in northeastern Ethiopia, resemble rainbow alien landscapes Io, a satellite of Jupiter. Potassium salts, manganese and iron washed to the surface color the salt flats in sandy, scarlet and greenish shades, forming a lifeless surreal landscape. The rocky basalt silhouettes and depressions of Dallol Volcano are some of the most impressive geological formations in East Africa, formed as a result of crystallization; The salt columns in the crater can reach a height of several meters. The colorful rocks illustrate millions of years of evolution of the earth's crust.
Dallol is the only volcano in the world with a crater below sea level. Its surroundings are considered one of the hottest places on Earth, where the average annual temperature reaches +34°C. The last volcanic eruption was recorded in 1926.
The volcanic crater of Dallol is dotted with thermal springs, the temperature of the gases released from them is very high. Therefore, when traveling deep into the Danakil Desert, you should choose shoes with hard soles, as well as clothing that will maximally protect your skin from exposure to toxic liquids. It is worth taking care of warm clothes and a change of underwear; Such tours imply a Spartan lifestyle, slightly brightened up by the hospitality of the host country.
How to get there
The best way to see the cosmic landscapes of the Dallol volcanic crater is to go on a guided tour organized by local tour operators. Such tours include visiting salt lake Afrera, a camel ride through the Danakil Desert, an introduction to the Ethiopian salt industry and communication with the nomadic Afar people. The price of the trip includes the services of an English-speaking guide and accompanying persons (including armed guards), who ensure not only the safety of the tour participants, but also take care of sufficient water (8 liters per person per day), food and a roof over their heads, organizing camp in the most suitable according to natural conditions place. Some overnight stays are provided in guest houses and small private hotels. The duration of this type of tour is 9-12 days, depending on the number of natural attractions in northern Ethiopia that you plan to visit. Most tours start in Addis Ababa, the capital, and include a flight to Mekele; further travel takes place on 4x4 SUVs. The cost of the trip averages $4,200 per person, but may vary depending on the chosen program and the number of participants.
Location
The Dallol volcano is located in the Danakili fault, in the Afar region, in the northeastern part.
Dallol Volcano - unearthly beauty below sea level. Ethiopia.
Dallol Volcano is the lowest terrestrial volcano on the planet, its mouth is located at 45 meters below sea level. Dallol is also known for its incredible landscapes and the highest average annual temperature- about 34°C.
Location: Ethiopia, Afar region, 1 day's travel from Mekele and 2 days from the Addis Ababa-Djibouti main road.
The volcano is located in the Danakili Lowlands in a remote area of eastern Ethiopia. Dallol is located on top of a layer of Quaternary sediments that includes a deposit of potassium salts
It is believed that the volcano was formed as a result of the eruption of basaltic magma under the body of the volcano, which is why it has such a bizarre shape
The volcano's mouth is surrounded by hills, rising 50-60 meters above the surrounding plains. The volcano has a perimeter of approximately 1.5 by 3 km.
Scientists have suggested that the hills are the remains of the destroyed crater walls, although no one knows either their age or the exact processes that led to this.
Currently, the volcano contains many hot mineral springs. Salts are washed out from the underlying layers and transported to the surface of the geothermal hot water and quickly crystallize
The characteristic white, yellow and red colors are the result of coloration by various sulfur ions and potassium salts
Dallol contains numerous areas of Fumaroles, egg-like formations that are made of thin layers of salts.
South of Dallol, the earth's crust, made of salts, is cut into rectangular slabs and transported to the highlands by camel caravans. These slabs are later sold in Mekele for processing into table salt.
The term Dallol is used to refer to the entire area in which the volcano and mining site is located
It has been estimated that about 1000 tons of potassium salts per year erupt to the surface mineral springs in the Black Mountain region near Dallal
In the southwestern part of the Dallol volcano there are impressive salt canyons formed as a result of erosion.
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