Sork Ale (Ethiopia-Eritrea)

Status Unknown Eruption Unknown 1611m
Stratovolcano (Rift zone / Intermediate crust (15-25 km))

Sork Ale is a silicic stratovolcano located in the Danakil horst SW of Dubbi volcano. Also known as Asdaga, it was constructed perpendicular to the NE-SW orientation of three larger stratovolcanoes (Nabro, Mallahle, and Asavyo) with which it forms the Bidu Volcanic Complex at the southern end of the Danakil Alps. A small, roughly 1-km-wide, 300-m-deep steep-walled caldera is found at the summit. Basaltic lava flows are prominent on the E side of the volcano, and satellite vents are located on the SE flank. The International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (1973) listed Sork Ale as probably active during the last 2000 years, but Wood (1980, pers. comm.) considered Holocene activity unlikely. The flanks are extensively dissected on the SW to NE sides, but less dissected flows form the eastern-to-southern flanks.

The small, roughly 1-km-wide caldera at the western (left-hand) side of the circular, dark-colored lava field at the center of this NASA Landsat image lies at the summit of Sork Ale volcano. This 1611-m-high silicic stratovolcano, also known as Asdaga, was constructed perpendicular to the orientation of three larger stratovolcanoes trending NE-SW at the southern end of the Danakil Alps. The age of the most recent eruptions of Sork Ale is not certain.

NASA Landsat image, 1999 (courtesy of Hawaii Synergy Project, Univ. of Hawaii Institute of Geophysics & Planetology).

Last updated 2019-08-04 00:28:02