The crater
Red walls.
Albert Backer — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rolfcosar — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Public domain · Rolfcosar — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Benlilkon93 — CC BY-SA 4.0
Ardoukoba is a fissure volcano on the coast of Djibouti, about 100 km from the capital, between Lake Assal and the Ghoubbet al-Kharab gulf. Its summit stands 298 metres above sea level. It is one of the youngest volcanoes in the area and part of the Great Rift Valley fault system. It last erupted in November 1978 after an earthquake, the area having been quiet for about three thousand years. Its rift is 17 km wide and 800 metres deep. It is made of basaltic cinder forming three cones, which poured out fluid lava. Djibouti hopes to have the Lake Assal and Ardoukoba area listed as World Heritage. You see black ground of hardened lava cut by deep cracks, and brown and red volcanic cones. Inside the crater are dark red walls of volcanic cinder. From the top the view takes in white Lake Assal on one side and the blue Ghoubbet gulf with its volcanic islets on the other. It is about 9 km from Lake Assal in a straight line, so the two pair easily. The ground is sharp and uneven, so wear sturdy shoes. The heat is intense, so carry plenty of water and go in the morning.
Red walls.
In black lava.
Volcanic islets.
Between Lake Assal and Ghoubbet al-Kharab, Djibouti
In November 1978, after an earthquake.
Yes, it is about 9 km away.