About Eburru, Ol Doinyo
Eburru, Ol Doinyo is a complex rising to 2,856 meters (9,371 feet) in Kenya's Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
Eburru, Ol Doinyo is located in Kenya, within the Kenyan Rift Volcanic Province of the broader Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions. Situated at 0.65° S, 36.22° E in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. At 2,856 meters above sea level, Eburru, Ol Doinyo rises above the surrounding terrain into montane or subalpine conditions. The elevation creates distinct ecological zones along its flanks, from forested lower slopes to exposed rocky terrain near the summit. The volcanic landform is characterized as a composite, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
Geological Context
Eburru, Ol Doinyo is situated along a rift zone, where tectonic plates are pulling apart. As the crust thins and fractures, magma rises to fill the gap, creating volcanic activity. Rift volcanism typically produces more fluid lava flows rather than explosive blasts, which means communities near Eburru, Ol Doinyo in Kenya generally face slower-moving hazards like lava flows and ground fissures rather than sudden pyroclastic events. However, rift volcanoes can still generate significant ash emissions and gas releases that affect local air quality. The dominant rock type is rhyolite, a silica-rich volcanic rock associated with highly viscous magma. Rhyolitic eruptions can be extremely explosive and are responsible for some of the largest volcanic events in Earth's history, including supervolcanic caldera-forming eruptions. The high silica content traps dissolved gases, building enormous pressure that can lead to catastrophic explosive releases.
GVP Reference Summary
Eburru volcano is elongated E-W perpendicular to the Gregory Rift NW of Lake Naivasha. The main edifice is eroded, but young partly vegetated rhyolitic domes occur on the E flank and are probably of Holocene age (Thompson and Dodson, 1963). Pleistocene phonolitic and trachytic lava flows are overlain by rhyolitic obsidian lava flows forming much of the N and NE slopes of the main massif. A prominent late-Pleistocene rhyolitic lava flow from a SE-flank vent extends almost to Lake Naivasha. Extensive fumarolic activity occurs at cinder cones and craters constructed along dominantly N-S faults cutting the massif.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Eburru, Ol Doinyo.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Eburru, Ol Doinyo
Is Eburru, Ol Doinyo an active volcano?+
Eburru, Ol Doinyo is classified as active based on credible evidence of past eruptions. Although its last known eruption was in prehistoric times, volcanologists consider it capable of erupting again.
How high is Eburru, Ol Doinyo?+
Eburru, Ol Doinyo has a summit elevation of 2,856 meters (9,371 feet) above sea level. At 2,856 meters, it is comparable in height to many significant mountain peaks and stands well above the tree line.
What type of volcano is Eburru, Ol Doinyo?+
Eburru, Ol Doinyo is classified as a Complex. Complex volcanoes have distinct geological characteristics that set them apart from other volcanic types.
Where is Eburru, Ol Doinyo located?+
Eburru, Ol Doinyo is located in Kenya, in the Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Kenyan Rift Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are -0.650° latitude, 36.220° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Eburru, Ol Doinyo?+
Eburru, Ol Doinyo can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Kenya may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
