About Hertali
Hertali is a fissure vent rising to 900 meters (2,953 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
Hertali is located in Ethiopia, within the Main Ethiopian Rift Volcanic Province of the broader Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions. Situated at 9.78° N, 40.33° E in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 900 meters above sea level, Hertali 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
Hertali 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 Hertali 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
Hertali is a basaltic fissure vent that fed lava flows at the S end of the Awash plain, about 50 km NNE of Dofen volcano. It was considered by Mohr and Wood (1976) to have been active during the late Pleistocene to Holocene on the basis of its youthful-looking morphology.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Hertali.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Hertali
Is Hertali an active volcano?+
Hertali 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 Hertali?+
Hertali has a summit elevation of 900 meters (2,953 feet) above sea level. At 900 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is Hertali?+
Hertali is classified as a Fissure vent. Fissure vent volcanoes have distinct geological characteristics that set them apart from other volcanic types.
Where is Hertali located?+
Hertali is located in Ethiopia, in the Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Main Ethiopian Rift Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are 9.780° latitude, 40.330° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Hertali?+
Hertali 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.
