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Mat Ala

Shield volcano · Ethiopia · 493m

The elongated N-S-trending volcanic chain below and to the right of turquoise-colored Lake Afrera includes the Tat Ali complex at the N and the Mat Ala at the S. Mat Ala contains a small 2.5 x 3.5 km wide caldera visible as a small light-colored dot near the southern end of the chain in this NASA Space Shuttle image. To the SW of Lake Afrera is Afderà volcano and Alayta volcano with its extensive dark-colored lava flows is farther to the west.
The elongated N-S-trending volcanic chain below and to the right of turquoise-colored Lake Afrera includes the Tat Ali complex at the N and the Mat Ala at the S. Mat Ala contains a small 2.5 x 3.5 km wide caldera visible as a small light-colored dot near the southern end of the chain in this NASA Space Shuttle image. To the SW of Lake Afrera is Afderà volcano and Alayta volcano with its extensive dark-colored lava flows is farther to the west. · Photo: NASA Space Shuttle image S-19-35, 1984 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).
Type
Shield volcano
Country
Ethiopia
Region
Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions / Afar Rift Volcanic Province
Elevation
493m
Coordinates
13.106, 41.161
Last eruption
Unknown
Tectonic setting
Rift zone / Intermediate crust (15-25 km)
Landform
Shield
Major rock type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Geological summary

Mat Ala is a low shield volcano in the southern Tat Ali Range, east of Afderà volcano. A 300-m-deep, 2.5 x 3.5 km wide caldera is found at the summit of the volcano, whose flanks are cut by numerous N-S-trending faults. Mat Ala has been active during the Holocene, and fumarolic activity occurs along a fissure SW of the volcano.

Eruption history

Detailed timeline

No eruption records available.

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.