About Alid
Alid is a stratovolcano rising to 904 meters (2,966 feet) in Eritrea'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
Alid is located in Eritrea, within the Afar Rift Volcanic Province of the broader Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions. Situated at 14.88° N, 39.92° E in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 904 meters above sea level, Alid is a moderately sized peak that remains accessible to hikers and researchers for much of the year. 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
Alid 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 Alid in Eritrea 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
Alid is an isolated, dissected volcano in the central Danakil depression. Elongated in an E-W direction perpendicular to the orientation of the Alid graben, it consists of a structural dome of uplifted sedimentary rocks rising 700 m above the graben floor, which was produced by intrusion of a silicic magma body. The dome is capped by steep-sided basaltic-to-rhyolitic lava flows. Late-stage eruptions during the late Pleistocene ejected rhyolitic pumice. A 2 x 3 km graben cuts the top of the dome, and the crater that produced the Plinian eruption occupies the western third of the summit depression. Vast lava fields of probable Holocene age originating from fissure vents bank up against the flanks to the NW and SE. Small cones and craters that were the source of the flows are localized along NNW-trending fissures. Fumarolic activity continues from broad areas on the northern summit and flank.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Alid.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Alid
Is Alid an active volcano?+
Alid 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 Alid?+
Alid has a summit elevation of 904 meters (2,966 feet) above sea level. At 904 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is Alid?+
Alid 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 Alid located?+
Alid is located in Eritrea, in the Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Afar Rift Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are 14.880° latitude, 39.920° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Alid?+
Alid can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Eritrea may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
