About Bora Ale
Bora Ale is a stratovolcano rising to 668 meters (2,192 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
Bora Ale is located in Ethiopia, within the Afar Rift Volcanic Province of the broader Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions. Situated at 13.72° N, 40.60° E in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 668 meters above sea level, Bora Ale 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
Bora Ale 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 Bora Ale 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 basalt / picro-basalt, 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
Bora Ale is a complex volcano located near the center of the Erta Ale Range. The earliest activity formed submarine lava flows partially covered by Quaternary reef deposits. A 4-km-wide shield volcano SW of the main cone is cut by curvilinear faults; youthful chains of spatter cones follow this same pattern and form concentric semi-circles. The summit is located on the NE side of the massif and consists of a silicic stratovolcano that is the largest of the Erta Ale Range. It has produced steep-sided viscous lava flows that have traveled up to 5 km. Strong fumarolic activity occurs within a 300-m-wide summit crater. Regional faulting has fed very recent basaltic lava flows from a NNW-trending fissure that cuts the stratovolcano.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Bora Ale.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Bora Ale
Is Bora Ale an active volcano?+
Bora Ale 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 Bora Ale?+
Bora Ale has a summit elevation of 668 meters (2,192 feet) above sea level. At 668 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is Bora Ale?+
Bora Ale 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 Bora Ale located?+
Bora Ale is located in Ethiopia, in the Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Afar Rift Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are 13.725° latitude, 40.600° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Bora Ale?+
Bora Ale 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.
