Erta Ale, Dallol & Danakil Desert (Ethiopia) Photos

VolcanoDiscovery stayed on Erta Ale between 25 and 28 November. We were surprised to find the south crater filled with fresh flows, and the lava lake overflowing onto the caldera. The following photos, arranged in chronological order, give an impression of the activity and the changes of the lava lake in the south crater. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Erta Ale volcano Nov 2010: overflowing lava lake (32 Images)

Bas bubbles bursting on the surface of the lava lake. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Erta Ale volcano Nov 2010: lava fountains (32 Images)

Erta Ale volcano Nov 2010: lava colors (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Erta Ale volcano Nov 2010: lava colors (34 Images)

Expedition photos taken during late Nov 2010 when we stayed 3 days on the crater of Erta Ale volcano in the Danakil desert. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Erta Ale volcano Nov 2010: people on the volcano (16 Images)

Yellow sulfur ponds, green acid lakes, towers, salt geysers, black and red salts - Dallol is perhaps the most alien and bizarre landscape on earth! (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Dallol Dec 2010: bizarre landscapes (95 Images)

Dallol Dec 2010: the grand salt lake (Lake Assale) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Dallol Dec 2010: the grand salt lake (Lake Assale) (24 Images)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 2010: Rift Valley & Danakil desert (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 2010: Rift Valley & Danakil desert (52 Images)

Photos taken between Addis Ababa, the Danakil desert and Mekele town Nov-Dec 2010. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 2010: tour photos (74 Images)

Erta Ale volcano, expedition 02/08 - lava fountains (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Erta Ale volcano, expedition 02/08 - lava fountains (62 Images)

Impressions from our February 2015 expedition into the Danakil desert in Ethiopia with Erta Ale volcano and Dallol hydrothermal deposits & springs as highlights - a selection of tour photos by Dietmar Berendes. (Photo: Dietmar)

February 2015 tour photos: Desert, salt and volcanoes by Dietmar Berendes (90 Images)

Desert, Salt & Volcanoes November 2011: Erta Ale and Dallol photos by Reinhard Radke (Photo: Reinhard Radke)

Desert, Salt & Volcanoes November 2011: Erta Ale and Dallol photos by Reinhard Radke (6 Images)

One of the participants of our latest Expedition to Erta Ale & Dallol, Domini Voegtli from Switzerland, kindly shared the following pictures with us. They show that the level of Erta Ale's active lava lake in the south pit crater has risen considerably during recent months.
Photos copyright: Dominik Voegtli (dominik DOT p DOT voegtli AT mail DOT com) (Photo: Dominik Voegtli)

Erta Ale volcano, Ethiopia - the lava lake in Dec 2013 (10 Images)

The first of our Danakil expeditions of the 2016-2017 winter season turned out to be an unexpected success - not only because of the flawless logistics and organisation or the friendliness with which local Ethiopians welcome international travelers, but also thanks to the very high activity at Erta Ale and Dallol!
At Erta Ale, the lava lake has been overflowing multiple times a day, sometimes even continuously, constructing a large new area of fresh pahoehoe lava flows on the caldera floor. Our main guide and organiser, Ethiopian geologist Enku, has been regularly visiting this location but never saw it this active and impressive in his 20 years experience.
And also Dallol seems to have stepped up its game: after the slow drying out and shrinking of the hydrothermal activity at this unique location between 2010 and 2015, last year´s rains had transformed it back to is former colourful and fascinating self - and this active area is still growing even in the past few weeks.
Below we gladly share with you a number of images that our participants Hans en Jooske kindly send us days after returning home from their Danakil volcano adventure. (Photo: Hans and Jooske)

November 2016 tour photos: Erta Ale & Dallol by Hans en Jooske (19 Images)

Our guest Jens-Wolfram E. who participated (for his second time!) in the most recent Danakil expedition, although still traveling, sent us a first selection of "fresh images" from both Erta Ale and Dallol: (Photo: Jens-Wolfram Erben)

Erta Ale volcano + Dallol hydrothermal field Dec 2016 - Jan 2017 impressions (8 Images)

Paul Reichert who took part in one of our latest Volcano Specials in January 2017 was lucky to witness one of Erta Ale volcano's most spectacular and intense eruptive phases in decades.
A surge of magma from depth (probably a small rifting episode) caused the lava lake in the southern pit crater of the caldera to overflow, build up a broad shield, before it collapsed, following the draining of the lake through a system of flank fissures 2-4 km downhill from 21 Jan - a mere day after Paul and his group had left.
The following is a selection of pictures of Paul, in approximate chronological order and annotated using the valuable field reports by Richard and our geologist expedition leader Enku who, along with Paul, were lucky enough to see this once-in-a-lifetime event. A big thank you goes to all of the three for sharing their information and images!
Watch the videos: 16 Jan | 17 Jan | 18-19 Jan (Photo: Paul Reichert)

Erta Ale volcano (Ethiopia): overflowing lava lake 16-19 Jan 2017 (56 Images)

Some impressions of our 'Desert, salt and volcanoes' expedition to Erta Ale and Dallol from 13 to 26 January 2018 - all images taken by participant Anastasia Ganuschenko. The new fissure eruption site which opened up on Erta Ale's flank a year before is still very active; now that some of the early lavas cooled down one can get very close to some of the lava lakes and hornitos that are still active. And thanks to the rainfall that finally came after about 4 years of drought the colourful scenery with salt deposits, acid lakes and small geysirs at the hydrothermal site of Dallol was once again looking its best!

Besides the 14-days tour group departures that we organise to this destination from mid November through to mid March we also offer customised tours at chosen dates for small groups and individuals. Please contact us through email for more information on such private expeditions to Erta Ale and Dallol! (Photo: Anastasia)

Erta Ale volcano + Dallol: tour photos Jan 2018 by Anastasia Ganuschenko (25 Images)

Below you find a photo gallery with exceptional images captured by one of our very enthusiastic volcano adventurers, Stefan Tommassini (www.fotografie-mit-seele.de), during his travels to the Danakil desert with our Ethiopian volcanologist and expedition leader in January 2018. The photographs include aerial drone images of the colourful salt deposits, hydrothermal hot springs and acid ponds in Dallol as well as the lava lakes on both eruption sites on Erta Ale shield volcan; the summit caldera with the north and south craters and the flank eruption site which has been active since 20 January 2017. If you are interested in traveling to this exceptional part of our planet, check out our 14 days 'Desert, salt and volcanoes' expedition! (c)

Erta Ale volcano & Dallol (Ethiopia): Jan 2018 photos by Stefan Tommasini (58 Images)

Collections

Erta Ale, Dallol & Danakil Expedition Nov-Dez 09

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Erta Ale volcano: November 2009 (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Erta Ale volcano: November 2009 (65 Images)

Erta Ale Nov 2009: lava lake crust and fountains (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Erta Ale Nov 2009: lava lake crust and fountains (80 Images)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 2009: expedition on Erta Ale (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 2009: expedition on Erta Ale (36 Images)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 2009: way to Erta Ale (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 2009: way to Erta Ale (40 Images)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 2009: Ahmed Ela after a rainstorm (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 2009: Ahmed Ela after a rainstorm (63 Images)

Dallol & the salt lake Nov 2009 (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Dallol & the salt lake Nov 2009 (48 Images)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 2009: way back to the highlands (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 2009: way back to the highlands (32 Images)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 09: additional photos (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 09: additional photos (605 Images)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 09: Paul's photos (Photo: Paul Nicholson)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 09: Paul's photos (9 Images)

Ethiopia Jan-Feb 2009

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Erta Ale expedition Jan-Feb 2009: the lava lake (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Erta Ale expedition Jan-Feb 2009: the lava lake (42 Images)

Erta Ale volcano Jan-Feb 2009: lava fountains (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Erta Ale volcano Jan-Feb 2009: lava fountains (54 Images)

Erta Ale volcano: lava patterns (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Erta Ale volcano: lava patterns (37 Images)

Expedition to the Danakil desert Jan-Feb 2009: tour photos (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Expedition to the Danakil desert Jan-Feb 2009: tour photos (163 Images)

Danakil expedition Jan-Feb 09: Dallol hot springs (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Danakil expedition Jan-Feb 09: Dallol hot springs (61 Images)

On and around Erta Ale volcano (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

On and around Erta Ale volcano (13 Images)

Danakil expedition Jan-Feb 2009: Afdera Salt Lake (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Danakil expedition Jan-Feb 2009: Afdera Salt Lake (16 Images)

Danakil expedition Jan-Feb 09: Great Salt Lake (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Danakil expedition Jan-Feb 09: Great Salt Lake (40 Images)

Expedition to the Danakil Jan-Feb 09: Ahmed Ela & salt caravanes (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Expedition to the Danakil Jan-Feb 09: Ahmed Ela & salt caravanes (36 Images)

Ethiopia Jan-Feb 2009: Geralta sandstone mountains (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Ethiopia Jan-Feb 2009: Geralta sandstone mountains (32 Images)

Ethiopia Jan-Feb 2009: additional photos (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Ethiopia Jan-Feb 2009: additional photos (559 Images)

Erta Ale & Dallol - Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 2008

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Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 08, part I: Erta Ale volcano (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 08, part I: Erta Ale volcano (48 Images)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 08, part II: lava fountains (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 08, part II: lava fountains (32 Images)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 08, part III: Dallol (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 08, part III: Dallol (80 Images)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 08, part IV: The salt plain (Lake Assale) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 08, part IV: The salt plain (Lake Assale) (27 Images)

The photos havn' been sorted and brushed through yet... (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 08: tour photos (312 Images)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 08: additional photos (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 08: additional photos (737 Images)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 08, part V: Afdera salt lake (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Danakil expedition Nov-Dec 08, part V: Afdera salt lake (27 Images)

Ethiopia Nov-Dec 2008: impressions from the highlands (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Ethiopia Nov-Dec 2008: impressions from the highlands (120 Images)

Dallol Dec 2010: bizarre landscapes (95 Images)

Dallol Dec 2010: the grand salt lake (Lake Assale) (24 Images)

Dallol Dec 2010: ghost town & potash factory (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Dallol Dec 2010: ghost town & potash factory (16 Images)

Selection of photographs taken on the 23rd of November 2015 during our first Danakil volcano expedition of this winter season! Image credits to Jim Keir, who participated on this tour and kindly shared these images with us. (Jim´s Ethiopia 2015 gallery)

It seems that this phenomenal hydrothermal system is increasingly becoming drier (more shades of yellow-orange-brown and less green colours) in comparison to the photographs taken in December 2010 following a particularly rainy period. What could be causing this gradual ´´dehydration´´ of the Dallol hot springs?

Despite the fact there are currently 3 companies which will be extracting groundwater for the mining of potash from the local salts (used as fertiliser), neither one of them has actually started the production phase of their mining activities. So it is unlikely that they are the (main) reason for the slowly drying out of the Dallol hydrothermal field. A conversation with the chief of the local Afar village of Hamadela, discussing the influence of growing tourist numbers on his people and their ways of living, brought to light the area´s staggering drought problem. Whereas 18 months is the longest time span within his life (ca 45 years) over which there was no rain falling in the Dallol area, there has now been no rain for over 50 months... The fact that the only influx of water over the past 4 years has been rain run-off from the surrounding plateaus into the Dallol depression, instead of locally falling rain, therefore seems to be a more likely cause. After all, the colourful Dallol hotsprings have only been regularly visited and photographed over the past decade, so not a lot is known about the hydrothermal system´s long term life cycles and changes. Careful monitoring will hopefully result in a better understanding of this hydrothermal system so that it can be preserved as well as possible for future generations. (Photo: jimkeir)

Danakil expedition Nov 2015 - Dallol photos by Jim Keir) (44 Images)

Dallol volcano, Feb. 2008: photos (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Dallol volcano, Feb. 2008: photos (60 Images)

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Erta Ale + Dallol

Desert, Salt & Volcanoes
One of our best volcano expeditions! Stay 3 full days / nights at the active lava lake of Erta Ale, explore the wonders of Dallol and the Danakil desert in northern Ethiopia. 14 days expedition during Nov-March, small groups, guided by geologist.

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