The Sleeping Giants of the Golan: A Volcanic Mystery Unveiled
In the heart of the Golan, two silent sentinels, Mount Avital and Mount Bental, stand as reminders of a fiery past. These dormant volcanoes, last active over 100,000 years ago, are part of a shared volcanic system that stretches across the plateau. But here's where it gets controversial: could these ancient giants awaken once more?
Mount Avital and its neighbor, Mount Bental, are connected by more than just proximity. They share a common magma source, a hidden reservoir deep beneath the earth's surface. Mount Avital, towering at 1,204 meters, and Mount Bental, at 1165 meters, bear the scars of their explosive origins. The volcanoes were born from powerful eruptions of scoria, a dark, porous rock, and fine ash, created when magma met groundwater. These blasts left their mark, shaping the distinctive horseshoe form of Mount Avital and blanketing Mount Bental's slopes with ash.
The volcanic park on Mount Avital's eastern flank offers a glimpse into this fiery history, with exposed ash layers and informative models. But the story doesn't end there. Basalt flows in the Golan, which erupted over millions of years, have left their mark. The youngest eruptions, which shaped the landscape we see today, occurred around 100,000 years ago, following earlier eruptions some 700,000 years prior. And this is the part most people miss: whether these eruptions marked the end of volcanic activity is still uncertain.
Prof. Oded Navon from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem sheds light on this mystery. He points out that volcanic eruptions have occurred farther east, in Syria, even in recent centuries. Based on geological dating, he estimates a pause of approximately 600,000 years between eruption phases in the Golan. A pause, he emphasizes, that could theoretically repeat itself.
"It's a possibility that cannot be ruled out," Navon said. "While we cannot predict where or when, volcanic eruptions usually provide warning signs." These signs include small earthquakes, ground deformation, and unusual gas emissions, all of which can be monitored by volcanologists to prepare for potential eruptions.
Prof. Amotz Agnon, also from the Hebrew University, expands on this. He explains that volcanic phenomena extend beyond the Golan, stretching from southern Syria through the Galilee towards Mount Carmel, and into Jordan. Most of this region has been relatively quiet over the past 100,000 years, with more recent eruptions concentrated around the Jabal al-Druze area. Ram crater lake in the northern Golan, he notes, is a remnant of a volcanic explosion that created a circular crater later filled with water.
But here's the catch: volcanoes that have been dormant for centuries can suddenly awaken. A famous example is Mexico's Parícutin volcano, which emerged unexpectedly from a cornfield in 1943 and grew into a mountain within just nine years. This serves as a reminder that the threat of volcanic activity is ever-present, even in seemingly dormant regions.
While the possibility of volcanic eruptions in the Golan is a concern, scientists stress that the more immediate danger lies elsewhere. The Dead Sea Rift, which runs through the Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, Arava, and Gulf of Eilat, poses a significant earthquake risk. Earthquakes in this region could reach magnitudes of up to 7.5, posing a far greater and more immediate threat.
However, a future eruption of Mount Avital or Mount Bental could still cause significant damage in the northern Golan and nearby areas. Under certain wind conditions, ash from these eruptions could spread across the Golan and the Galilee, and even reach southern Syria. Recent eruptions elsewhere, such as Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano after 12,000 years of dormancy, serve as a reminder that long-quiet volcanoes can indeed awaken.
This ongoing mystery of the Golan's volcanoes highlights the importance of continued geological monitoring. As we navigate the complexities of our planet's natural processes, one thing is certain: nature's surprises can be both awe-inspiring and potentially devastating. So, the question remains: are we prepared for the unexpected awakening of these sleeping giants?
