One of the world's rare permanent lava lakes
Erta Ale, meaning "smoking mountain" in the Afar language, is one of the most active volcanoes in Ethiopia and one of the few places on Earth with a permanent lava lake. Its summit caldera holds a churning pool of molten rock that glows red against the desert night.\n\nThe ascent is made on foot in the cooler evening hours, with a night camped on the crater rim above the glowing lake. Watching the lava bubble and crack from the rim of Erta Ale is one of the most awe-inspiring natural spectacles on the planet and the unforgettable highlight of any Danakil expedition.
Summit lava lake
Crater rim viewpoint
South crater and hornitos
Surrounding basalt lava fields
Afar desert landscapes
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