Home to salt lakes, lava lakes, volcanoes and acidic springs, the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia, Africa, is one of Earth’s most unusual places. Lying at approximately 125 metres below sea level, the geological depression was formed ages ago. It is listed among the hottest and harshest places on Earth. Temperatures range from 40°C – 55°C with barely any rainfall. Its scorching hot climates, bubbly acid pools and deep history all work together to make it the strange place that we know today.
HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY
The Danakil Depression is situated in the northeastern region of Ethiopia, close to the border with Eritrea within the northern Afar Region. The Danakil Alps and the arid Ethiopian Plateau surround this otherworldly terrain. Ages ago, this area was a part of the Red Sea. But as volcanic activity increased, copious amounts of lava flowed out. As this lava cooled down, it segregated an inland water body which gradually became devoid of water due to evaporation, and formed the Danakil Depression. Geologically, it is a very unstable area where the African and Asian continents are slowly separating. The intense heat and combination of water make it a hotbed of hydrothermal activity.
COLOURS
Danakil Depression looks like a surreal and vibrant painting in shades of orange, yellow and green. This otherworldly look is due to the immense volcanic activity combined with the rain and seawater interactions. Aerial pictures show an abundance of a dazzling display of acid pools which are neatly lined by salt and sulphur. These pools all lie in succession with each other, with hardly any spacing. Some of the pools are confined, while others seem to flow elsewhere. The yellow pools are the hottest and most acidic while the greener ones can be counted as the coolest. Red colour in pools arises due to iron oxides and blue colour due to copper salts.
EXTREME TEMPERATURES
Its hot weather is due to its low elevation, its proximity to the equator, and the fact that the arid region of which it is a part is blazing hot throughout the year. Its proximity to the Red Sea also fails to cool off the area as the Red Sea itself is a warm sea. Danakil Depression is known for being an alien terrain due to its harsh living conditions. Regarded as the sixth hottest place on Earth, it is also the sixth lowest place on the planet, at approximately 125 metres below sea level. Because of the depression’s location at the meeting point of three tectonic plates, rifting tends to occur around the area. In rifting zones, the crust of the Earth is stretched and thinned, which causes the land to sink, resulting in its low elevation.
To sum it all up, the Danakil Depression is a bizarre site. From its weird colours to its scorching hot weather and low elevation, it is clearly evident that the Danakil Depression is not a habitable area. In fact, as one of the most extreme places on planet Earth, it symbolises the immense power of natural forces, making it a fascinating subject of study for many people.
Writer : Harman
Grade : 7 (Year 2024)
Place : Sydney, Australia
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