| Lake Karum (also known as Lake Assale) | |
|---|---|
| Location | Afar Region |
| Lake type | salt lake |
| Basin countries | Ethiopia |
| Surface elevation | −115 m (−377 ft) |
Lake Karum (also known as Lake Assal) is a lake in the Afar Region of Ethiopia. One of two salt lakes in the northern end of the Danakil Depression (the other one being Lake Afrera), it lies at −115 m (−377 ft) below sea level with a latitude and longitude of . The volcano Erta Ale rises southwest of this lake.
Werner Munzinger, who travelled through the Afar Depression in 1867, recorded that this lake was fed by four streams: the Didic, the Ala, the Rira Guddy, and the Ragali or Awra, which is the only permanent stream flowing into Lake Karum.[1]
North of Lake Karum is the former mining settlement of Dallol. The lake is extremely salty and is surrounded by a salt pan, which is still mined, the salt is being transported by caravan to the rest of the country.