About Gedemsa
Gedemsa is a caldera rising to 1,909 meters (6,263 feet) in Ethiopia'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
Gedemsa is located in Ethiopia, within the Main Ethiopian Rift Volcanic Province of the broader Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions. Situated at 8.36° N, 39.17° E in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 1,909 meters above sea level, Gedemsa is a moderately sized peak that remains accessible to hikers and researchers for much of the year. The volcanic landform is characterized as a caldera, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
Geological Context
Gedemsa 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 Gedemsa in Ethiopia 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
The Gedemsa caldera covers 7 x 9 km along the Main Ethiopian Rift E of Lake Koka and SW of Wonji Sugar Estate Farm. The steep-sided edifice has walls 100-200 m high whose upper part consists primarily of rhyolitic lava flows, formed by the eruption of a series of trachytic ignimbrites, It is also cut by many NNE-SSW-trending regional faults, particularly on the E side. Late-Pleistocene to Holocene volcanics form a chain of rhyolitic lava flows and pumice deposits, known as Ittisa, that rises above the floor of the caldera. A large 1-km-wide crater is located at the eastern part of the chain. A Holocene lava dome or flow is found on the SW flank. Small basaltic spatter cones have formed inside the caldera rim. Weak fumarolic activity was reported at two locations.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Gedemsa.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Gedemsa
Is Gedemsa an active volcano?+
Gedemsa 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 Gedemsa?+
Gedemsa has a summit elevation of 1,909 meters (6,263 feet) above sea level. At 1,909 meters, it is a moderately sized volcanic peak, roughly comparable to Mount Vesuvius (1,281m).
What type of volcano is Gedemsa?+
Gedemsa is classified as a Caldera. Calderas are large volcanic depressions formed when a volcano erupts so powerfully that its magma chamber collapses, creating a basin that can be kilometers wide. They are often sites of some of Earth's largest eruptions.
Where is Gedemsa located?+
Gedemsa is located in Ethiopia, in the Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Main Ethiopian Rift Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are 8.363° latitude, 39.172° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Gedemsa?+
Gedemsa can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Ethiopia may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
