Dallol is an interesting volcano in Ethiopia.
It was shown on the program “ The Hottest Place on earth”
It is an explosion crater in the Danakill depression- northeast of Erta Ale. It has been formed by the intrusion of basaltic magma into the Miocene salt deposits and the subsequent hydrothermal activity.
(also known as ultravulcanian eruptions occurs when magma heats ground or surface water- the temperature of the magma causes near instantaneous evaporation to steam that results in an explosion of steam, water, ash, rock, and volcanic bombs)
These occurred in 1926- this formed the crater and the crater and the other craters that dot the nearby salt flats,
Numerous hot springs are discharging brine and acidic liquid here. Widespread are small, temporary geysers which are forming cones of salt.
The term Dallol was coined by the Afar people and means dissolution or disintegration describing a landscape made up of green acid ponds (pH-values less than 1) iron oxide, sulfur and salt desert plains. The area resembles the hot springs areas of Yellowstone Park.
Sorry about the length of this post but it is a stop gap while I work on a longer more interesting one!!
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