Erta-Ale Active Volcano
Erta Ale is a continuously active basaltic shield volcano in the Afar. It is in the depression, a desert area spanning the border with Eritrea, and the volcano itself is surrounded completely by an area below sea level making it a relatively low-elevation volcano. Erta Ale means “Smoking Mountain” in the local Afar language and its southernmost pit is known locally as “the gateway to hell”.
Erta-Ale is formed almost entirely out of lava that was poured out of volcano’s crater. This is the most active volcano in Ethiopia and the world too. Its height is 61.3 metres (2,011 ft) with one or sometimes two active lava lakes at the summit which occasionally overflow on the south side of the volcano. The single most impressive part of Erta-Ale volcano is its Lava. It has colored landscapes, incredible mineral deposits, sulphur lakes and bubbling sulphur springs. This is sight not to be missed by the adventurous travelers.