The western part of the lava lake is being overturned. The solid crust is broken into large fragments that sink back into the fluid interior of the lake.
File: erta_ale_i10053.jpg | 297 Hits | + 7 similar images
Image author: Tom Pfeiffer [mail]
---
Image found in Erta Ale volcano: November 2009

At the same time, pressurized gasses start producing fountains in the middle of the lake.
File: erta_ale_i9790.jpg | 85 Hits
Image author: Tom Pfeiffer [mail]
---
Image found in Erta Ale volcano: November 2009

lava fountain
File: erta_ale_i9879.jpg | 83 Hits | + 7 similar images
Image author: Tom Pfeiffer [mail]
---
Image found in Erta Ale Nov 2009: lava lake crust and fountains

Claude, Olivier and Paul watch the activity of the lava lake.
File: erta_ale_i10016.jpg | 423 Hits | + 12 similar images
Image author: Tom Pfeiffer [mail]
---
Image found in Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 2009: expedition on Erta Ale

The red glow of the lava illuminates the crater walls under the blue sky of dusk. A small group of observers is on the left crater rim.
File: erta_ale_i7464.jpg | 725 Hits | + 12 similar images
Image author: Tom Pfeiffer [mail]
---
Image found in Erta Ale volcano: November 2009

Vertical view onto the lava lake in the evening showing a typical scene of activity: 3 areas at the lake shore are moderately fountaining and several rifts occur on the s...
File: erta_ale_g8571.jpg | 1692 Hits | + 3 similar images
Image author: Tom Pfeiffer [mail]
---
Image found in Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 08, part I: Erta Ale volcano

Franz, Frank and Karinna watch the lava lake.
File: ertaale_e36474.jpg | 9260 Hits
Image author: Tom Pfeiffer [mail]
---
Image found in Salt, please: from 2300 m to -120 m a.s.l. (tour diary, Feb. 08)

Lava lake inside Kilauea volcano's West Gap crater. The whole crust covering the lake has just been overturned, exposing the red hot glowing interior. hawaii_e7837
File: hawaii_e7837.jpg | 36899 Hits | + 4 similar images
---
Image found in Kilauea volcano (Hawaii), July 2007: lava lake activity in Pu'u 'O'o crater

A second later, the gaps between plates have widened and new crust is forming on the cooling lava that has replaced the subducted slab.
File: erta_ale_i10057.jpg | 254 Hits | + 5 similar images
Image author: Tom Pfeiffer [mail]
---
Image found in Erta Ale volcano: November 2009

As older crust sinks back down, new lava surges from the gaps and onto still floating parts of older crust.
File: erta_ale_i9853.jpg | 74 Hits | + 1 similar image
Image author: Tom Pfeiffer [mail]
---
Image found in Erta Ale Nov 2009: lava lake crust and fountains

The trail of a fountain moving NW with the interior current of the lake.
File: erta_ale_i9418.jpg | 71 Hits
Image author: Tom Pfeiffer [mail]
---
Image found in Erta Ale volcano: November 2009

Moving lava fountain in the evening
File: erta_ale_i9897.jpg | 74 Hits
Image author: Tom Pfeiffer [mail]
---
Image found in Erta Ale volcano: November 2009

While the lake starts to overflow on the western and northen rims, the crust starts to crack open.
File: erta_ale_i9914.jpg | 76 Hits | + 12 similar images
Image author: Tom Pfeiffer [mail]
---
Image found in Erta Ale volcano: November 2009

The crust is breaking apart at the southern margin of the lava lake and fragments are subducted and replaced by fresh hot lava.
File: erta_ale_i10056.jpg | 267 Hits | + 5 similar images
Image author: Tom Pfeiffer [mail]
---
Image found in Erta Ale volcano: November 2009

A large spherical gas bubble rises suddenly from the S end of the lake.
File: erta_ale_i9848.jpg | 91 Hits
Image author: Tom Pfeiffer [mail]
---
Image found in Erta Ale volcano: November 2009

The crust can no longer be supported and starts to break up on the western end of the lake, leading to a rapid succession of spectacular crust subduction events.
File: erta_ale_i9777.jpg | 69 Hits | + 2 similar images
Image author: Tom Pfeiffer [mail]
---
Image found in Erta Ale volcano: November 2009