Tahalra Volcanic Field
Volcanic field · 1,467m · Algeria
About Tahalra Volcanic Field
Tahalra Volcanic Field is a volcanic field rising to 1,467 meters (4,813 feet) in Algeria's Northern Africa Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
Tahalra Volcanic Field is located in Algeria, within the West Central Sahara Volcanic Province of the broader Northern Africa Volcanic Regions. Situated at 22.67° N, 5.00° E in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 1,467 meters above sea level, Tahalra Volcanic Field is a moderately sized peak that remains accessible to hikers and researchers for much of the year. The volcanic landform is characterized as a cluster, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
Geological Context
Tahalra Volcanic Field is an intraplate volcano, meaning it formed away from any plate boundary. These volcanoes are often powered by hotspots — plumes of abnormally hot mantle material rising from deep within the Earth. Hotspot volcanoes like Tahalra Volcanic Field tend to produce effusive eruptions with lava flows that can be relatively predictable, giving nearby communities in Algeria more time to prepare. However, they can also produce explosive phases, particularly when magma interacts with groundwater. The dominant rock type is trachybasalt / tephrite basanite, a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock that forms from rapidly cooling, low-viscosity lava. Basaltic eruptions tend to be less explosive and produce fluid lava flows that can travel long distances. While less immediately dangerous than explosive eruptions, basaltic lava flows can destroy structures and infrastructure in their path, and volcanic gases released during these eruptions can affect air quality over a wide area.
GVP Reference Summary
The large E-W elongated Tahalra volcanic field covers an area of about 1,800 km2 in the Hoggar Province of southern Algeria. It lies WSW of the town of Tamanrasset and was active from the Miocene to the Holocene, producing alkaline Strombolian cones and lava flows. The field was constructed over Precambrian metamorphic and plutonic rocks of the Tuareg shield. A dozen trachytic-to-rhyolitic lava domes and spines formed during the Pliocene, and Pliocene-to Pleistocene activity formed about 100 small basaltic (mostly basanitic) cones. The most recent activity, during the Pleistocene and Holocene, produced about 20 maars and cones along the northern margin.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Tahalra Volcanic Field.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Tahalra Volcanic Field
Is Tahalra Volcanic Field an active volcano?+
Tahalra Volcanic Field 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 Tahalra Volcanic Field?+
Tahalra Volcanic Field has a summit elevation of 1,467 meters (4,813 feet) above sea level. At 1,467 meters, it is a moderately sized volcanic peak, roughly comparable to Mount Vesuvius (1,281m).
What type of volcano is Tahalra Volcanic Field?+
Tahalra Volcanic Field is classified as a Volcanic field. Volcanic fields consist of clusters of small volcanic vents and cinder cones spread across a region. Rather than a single central vent, eruptions can occur at many points across the field.
Where is Tahalra Volcanic Field located?+
Tahalra Volcanic Field is located in Algeria, in the Northern Africa Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the West Central Sahara Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are 22.670° latitude, 5.000° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Tahalra Volcanic Field?+
Tahalra Volcanic Field can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Algeria may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
