Science is Fun Fridays!
The Danakil Depression in Ethiopia - here, Lake Karum peeks out through a hole in the salt flats.
It lies at the junction of three tectonic plates, developed as a result of Africa and Asia moving apart.
This area is about 410 feet below sea level, and is one of the hottest places on Earth. The average temperature is 94 degrees F. Volcanic activity helps heat the various spring waters up to 212 degrees.
A cone formed around a small geyser.
They discharge brine and acidic liquid, producing cones of salt.
Erta Ale is an active basaltic shield volcano, and the most active in Ethiopia.
It also holds the longest existing lava lake, present since around 1906.
Dallol, a cinder cone volcano, was formed by the intrusion of basaltic magma into the Miocene salt deposits and the subsequent hydrothermal activity.
The Afar people still mine for salt here, as their grandfather's grandfather's did.
Salt is considered "white gold" and was a form of currency until the 20th century.
Comments
Post a Comment