About Bayuda Volcanic Field
Bayuda Volcanic Field is a volcanic field rising to 670 meters (2,198 feet) in Sudan's Northern Africa Volcanic Regions. Its last known eruption was in 850 CE. The volcano has produced 1 recorded eruption.
Geography & Climate
Bayuda Volcanic Field is located in Sudan, within the Southeast Sahara Volcanic Province of the broader Northern Africa Volcanic Regions. Situated at 18.33° N, 32.75° E in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 670 meters above sea level, Bayuda 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
Bayuda 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 Bayuda Volcanic Field tend to produce effusive eruptions with lava flows that can be relatively predictable, giving nearby communities in Sudan 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.
Eruption History Summary
Bayuda Volcanic Field has 1 recorded eruption in the geological database, spanning from 850 CE to 850 CE.
GVP Reference Summary
The Bayuda volcanic field is located in the Bayuda Desert of NE Sudan, south of the major Abu Hamed bend of the Nile River about 300 km N of Khartoum. More than 90 eruptive centers along a WNW-ESE line were constructed over Precambrian and Paleozoic granitic rocks near the center of the Bayuda Desert. Most vents are cinder cones that produced lava flows which breached the cones. About 10% of vents in the field are explosion craters, the largest of which, named Hosh ed Dalam, is 1.3 km wide and up to 500 m deep. The youngest basalts appear to post-date the last period of moist climate in Sudan, which ended as recently as about 5,000 years ago. One of the least eroded lava flows was dated at about 1,100 years ago.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
1 Recorded Eruption
| Year | VEI | Type | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 850 | — | Confirmed Eruption | — |
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Bayuda Volcanic Field
Is Bayuda Volcanic Field an active volcano?+
Bayuda Volcanic Field is not currently classified as active. Its activity evidence is listed as "Eruption Dated." The last known eruption was in 850 CE. However, no volcano is ever considered permanently extinct.
When did Bayuda Volcanic Field last erupt?+
The most recent recorded eruption of Bayuda Volcanic Field occurred in 850 CE. The eruption was classified as a "Confirmed Eruption." Bayuda Volcanic Field has 1 recorded eruption in total.
How high is Bayuda Volcanic Field?+
Bayuda Volcanic Field has a summit elevation of 670 meters (2,198 feet) above sea level. At 670 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is Bayuda Volcanic Field?+
Bayuda 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 Bayuda Volcanic Field located?+
Bayuda Volcanic Field is located in Sudan, in the Northern Africa Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Southeast Sahara Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are 18.330° latitude, 32.750° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Bayuda Volcanic Field?+
Bayuda Volcanic Field can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Sudan may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
