Danakil desert

danakil desert depression

El danakil desert It is one of the most extreme and desolate places in the world. It is located in the northeast of Ethiopia, in the Afar region and has temperatures that reach 50 degrees and almost zero humidity. It is the subject of numerous scientific research studies in order to learn more about our planet in extreme conditions.

Therefore, in this article we are going to tell you about the characteristics, climate and discoveries about the Danakil desert.

Key features

danakil desert

The geology of the Danakil Desert is unique. It is located in an area of ​​intense geothermal activity, with active volcanoes and fumaroles spewing toxic gases and ash. In some parts of the desert, smoking craters and sulfuric acid lakes can be seen, creating a totally devastating landscape.

This desert is located in one of the lowest places in the world, with an average altitude of about 100 meters below sea level. This area is known as the Danakil Depression, and is the lowest point in Africa. The contrast between the aridity of the desert and the presence of salt lakes and swamps is another of the most fascinating aspects of this region.

The fauna and flora is extremely limited, due to the extreme conditions of climate and geology. However, there are some species that have managed to adapt to this hostile environment, such as the camel, the sand snake and the desert lizard. Furthermore, the region is home to one of the oldest cultures in the world, the Afar tribe, who have managed to survive in this inhospitable landscape for millennia.

Danakil Desert Climate

extreme place on the planet

As we have mentioned before, this desert is one of the most extreme places on the planet, with daytime temperatures that they can exceed 50 degrees, making it the hottest place on Earth.

The climate of this desert is very dry and arid. It rains very little and for most of the year the region is completely dry. This is due to the lack of precipitation and the presence of dry and hot winds, which makes the humidity very low.

Despite the extremely dry climate, the Danakil Desert is home to some of the most stunning scenery in the world. The region has a large number of volcanoes, acid lakes and salt landscapes that are unique in the world.

Dallol Crater Investigations

rift valley

It is located at the northernmost point of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa. This is a "maar" type crater that existed due to an eruption of submerged magma. It is about an explosion that occurred in 1926 when groundwater came into contact with hot lava or magma.  Dallol crater contains green and acid pools, iron oxides, sulfur and salt flats. Some places in this very arid region are 100 meters below sea level and actually act like craters that trap heat.

Its environment is a typically desert climate, with an annual average maximum temperature of 41°C. The warmest month (June) has an average high of 46,7°C, although temperatures exceed 34°C every day of the year. Seasonality is low due to its proximity to the equator and the Red Sea. It is characterized by constant extreme heat and inefficient night-time cooling, combined with extremely dry conditions.

The crater emits toxic fumes that make the surrounding environment surrounding it is uninhabitable, and only a few microbes can adapt to these extreme conditions.. A Franco-Spanish research team took numerous laboratory samples at Dallol to assess the microbiological and genetic levels. The microbiologist who led the team, Purificación López García, from the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), explained on different occasions the conclusions of her published scientific work: «There is no life in the salty, hot, highly acidic pools of Dallol, and adjacent magnesium-rich brine lakes«. However, he clarified, "halophilic archaea are a diverse group of primitive microorganisms" and survive in highly concentrated salt solutions and extremely acidic environments.

Afar tribe of the Danakil desert

Dallol holds the record for the highest average maximum temperature of any inhabited place on Earth. Many people wonder how this crater could be habitable. However, the correct question would be how many people can support these conditions.

Known for their tolerance of high temperatures, the Afar people have lived in the Danakil Depression for at least two thousand years. The Afar are a nomadic people and until the 1930s the Afar were known for their brutality and xenophobia.. Some say that the Danakil desert region is best understood through photos or videos.

The main activity of the town is the extraction of salt, which is still cut into tiles by hand and transported by camels. Caravans of these animals can often be seen driving slowly along the ancient trails towards Tigray.

The Afar have a social structure based on clans and extended families, where the patriarch of each family has a fundamental role in decision making. The practice of polygamy is also common, where men can have multiple wives, although most marriages are monogamous.

The Afar culture is very rich and is marked by its traditions and customs, which have been passed down from generation to generation. One of the most notable aspects of their culture is the importance they give to rituals and ceremonies, such as marriages, funerals and religious festivals. The religion of the Afar is Islam, although they also maintain animistic beliefs and ancestral superstitions.

Life in the Danakil desert is not easy, and the Afar have developed a great capacity for resistance and adaptation to survive in such an inhospitable environment. However, their way of life and their culture are in danger due to lack of water, desertification and the pressure of the modern world.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Danakil desert and its characteristics.


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