About Tousside, Tarso
Tousside, Tarso is a stratovolcano rising to 3,299 meters (10,824 feet) in Chad'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
Tousside, Tarso is located in Chad, within the East Central Sahara Volcanic Province of the broader Northern Africa Volcanic Regions. Situated at 21.04° N, 16.47° E in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. At 3,299 meters above sea level, Tousside, Tarso 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
Tousside, Tarso 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 Tousside, Tarso tend to produce effusive eruptions with lava flows that can be relatively predictable, giving nearby communities in Chad more time to prepare. However, they can also produce explosive phases, particularly when magma interacts with groundwater. The dominant rock type is trachyte / trachydacite, an intermediate to silica-rich volcanic rock. This composition typically produces more viscous magma, leading to more explosive eruptions with ash columns and pyroclastic flows. Andesitic and dacitic magmas build pressure before erupting, which is why volcanoes with this rock chemistry are often associated with Plinian-style eruptions that can send ash tens of kilometers into the atmosphere and disrupt aviation across entire regions.
GVP Reference Summary
Tarso Toussidé, a broad volcanic massif at the western end of the Tibesti Range, is capped by the Toussidé stratovolcano, constructed at the western end of the 14-km-wide ignimbritic Pleistocene Yirrigue caldera. The 6,000 km2 massif was constructed over a basement of Precambrian schists on the east and Paleozoic sandstones on the west. The summit contains numerous fumaroles and very youthful lava flows (Vincent, 1992 pers. comm.). Fresh-looking trachytic and trachyandesitic lava flows cover an area of 200 km2 and extend as far as 25 km from the summit on the western side. The steep-sided, 1-km-deep, 8-km-wide Trou au Natron caldera cuts the SE rim of Yirrigue caldera and is one of the youngest features of the massif. Ehi Timi and Ehi Sosso volcanoes, and the smaller 1.5-km-wide explosion crater of Doon Kidimi, are located on the NE-to-ESE flanks of the massif.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Tousside, Tarso.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Tousside, Tarso
Is Tousside, Tarso an active volcano?+
Tousside, Tarso 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 Tousside, Tarso?+
Tousside, Tarso has a summit elevation of 3,299 meters (10,824 feet) above sea level. At 3,299 meters, it is comparable in height to many significant mountain peaks and stands well above the tree line.
What type of volcano is Tousside, Tarso?+
Tousside, Tarso is classified as a Stratovolcano. Stratovolcanoes (also called composite volcanoes) are steep, conical volcanoes built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, and volcanic ash. They are among the most common and dangerous types, known for explosive eruptions.
Where is Tousside, Tarso located?+
Tousside, Tarso is located in Chad, in the Northern Africa Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the East Central Sahara Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are 21.041° latitude, 16.473° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Tousside, Tarso?+
Tousside, Tarso can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Chad may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
