In the northern part of Langano Lake is located a deep, round bay with an island in the center. This island has different names – Edo Laki, O’a and also Geyser Island. For several decades here was located impressive geyser, which now has disappeared.

This geyser formed in 1906, after an earthquake. There are several hot springs on Edo Laki Island – and one of them started a furious activity. Approximately two times per minute the water from this spring burst high up in the air. Bursts lasted just a few seconds but the fountain was 25 – 30 m high.

As time went, geyser became less powerful. In 1926 the height of geyser was just 1 m and it burst just once per (approximately) 30 minutes. There is a contradicting report from 1963 – 1964, which reports that geyser was 2 m high then.

In 1965 in the site of the geyser was a circular basin with a diameter of 2 m. Water in this basin fluctuated by 5 – 10 cm every 9 – 10 minutes. In 1970 even this surge was not noticeable.

Today here is located very hot spring with the temperature of water 96°C. Water is alkaline, with pH 8.36.

Geyser of Edo Laki Island is included in the following list:

Geysers of Africa

References

1. Pierre Gouin. Earthquake History of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. 1979, Ottawa.

Geyser of Edo Laki Island on the map

Location, GPS coordinates:	7.6900 N 38.7730 E (mistake up to 400 m)
Categories:	Thermal springs, Geysers (extinct?)
Values:	Geology, Visual
Rating:
Where is located?	Africa, Ethiopia, Oromiya, Northern bay of Langano Lake, Edo Laki (Geyser) island
Alternate names:	Edy Geyser, O’a Island geyser, Geyser of Langano Lake Geyser Island

Landmarks of Ethiopia

Ethiopia is very interesting country with rich cultural and natural heritage. Highlights of Ethiopian heritage are its rock cut churches, ancient stelae and megaliths and places, where are found some of the oldest hominins and humans in the world.

Geysers

Hasty hydrogeologist would say: geysers are thermodynamically and hydrodynamically unstable hot springs. “Normal” people would say – geysers are hot springs which at more or less regular intervals shoot up a fountain of boiling water and steam. Sometimes these fountains are even 100 m tall… or even 450 m!

Recommended books

Landscapes and Landforms of Ethiopia

This book provides a succinct but comprehensive presentation of key geomorphological locations and topics including information about geomorphological heritage and maps to visit the most important sites.

Ethiopia

The bestselling guide to Ethiopia in recent years, this fully updated seventh edition of Philip Briggs’ acclaimed guide reveals an ancient country that continues to surpass all expectations: from the ancient Judaic cultures ofthe fertile highlands to the Animist people of the South Omo Valley, from the Afroalpine moorland of the Bale Mountains National Park to the thundering Blue Nile Falls.