Dalafilla Volcano
Updated: Mar 31, 2025 08:19 GMT -
stratovolcano
Ethiopia, 13.79°N / 40.55°E 
Summit height: 613 m / 2011 ft
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 14 Dec 2021
Dalafilla (or Alu-Dalafilla) is a stratovolcano in the Erta Ale range, Ethiopia. It had a major effusive eruption on Nov 4, 2008 - one of the largest effusive eruptions in Africa during historic times.
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Dalafilla volcano eruptions: Nov-Dec 2008
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Background
Dalaffilla (or Alu-Dalafilla), also called Gabuli, is one of the 6 volcanoes in the Erta Ale range in the northern Danakil desert in Ethiopia: Gada Ale, Alu-Dalaffilla, Borale Ale, Erta Ale, Hayli Gubbi and Ale Bagu.Dalaffilla is a small conical stratovolcano with steep upper flanks and rises 300 m above surrounding lava fields SE of Alu volcano to 600 m above sea level.
Dalaffilla's shape with steep (up to ca. 35 deg) slopes is unusual for the Erta Ale Range volcanoes, which are mostly shield volcanoes made by basaltic lava flows. Dalafilla's cone is constructed of very viscous silicic flows that extend primarily to the east, while they are blocked to the west by tectonic morphologies. Numerous fissures surrounding the volcano have created lateral lava flows and constructed small cinder cones.
Fumarolic activity occurs in the 100-m-wide summit crater and has weathered surrounding lava flows.
The 2008 eruption started from a fissures on the rift axis between Dalaffilla and Alu volcanoes and produced enormous quantities of lava flows covering an estimated 300 square kilometers after the first days of the eruption. It is the first known eruption at Dalaffilla in historic times and likely to be one of the largest eruptions in the known history of Ethiopia.
Dalafilla Volcano Photos
Landcruisers gather at the basecamp of Erta Ale. The volcanic chain to the north in the background, including Alu and Dalafilla volcanoes. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Significant volcanic eruptions: Dalafilla volcano
In the past 10,000 years, Dalafilla has had only one confirmed historic eruption in 2008.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Dalafilla volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Dalafilla can be found on the news page of Dalafilla volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W and NW of Dalaffilla Historical obs./docs. | 3? | ||||
Remark:
Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution
Dalafilla Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Dalafilla volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Dalafilla occurred in 2008.
+How often does Dalafilla volcano erupt?
There are no known historic eruptions, but evidence from geologic records shows that it has had at least 1 eruptions over the past 10,000 years. This number is likely much higher because many past eruptions might not have left evidence recognizeable today and/or the volcano might not have been studied in too much detail. Using the available data, a very conservative estimate is that Dalafilla volcano erupts every 10,000 years.
+How active is Dalafilla volcano at present?
Dalafilla volcano is occasionally active: Since 1900, it has had one eruption, which occurred in 2008.
+When was the largest eruption of Dalafilla volcano?
The largest eruption of Dalafilla volcano in historic times occurred in 2008. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.
Latest satellite images
Dalafilla Volcano Maps
Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dalafilla volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Dalafilla volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dalafilla volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Dalafilla volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dalafilla volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Dalafilla volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dalafilla volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Dalafilla volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dalafilla volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Dalafilla volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dalafilla volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Dalafilla volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dalafilla volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Dalafilla volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dalafilla volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Dalafilla volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dalafilla volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Dalafilla volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dalafilla volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Dalafilla volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dalafilla volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dalafilla volcano (scale of few kilometers)
