Danakil Depression

Eruption (left) and Mount Ayalu, the westernmost and older of two volcanoes at the southern end of the Danakil Depression
The hot springs in Danakil Depression offer a research opportunity for extremophile microbes

The Danakil Depression is the northern part of the Afar Triangle or Afar Depression,[1] a geological depression that has resulted from the presence of three tectonic plates in the Horn of Africa. The Danakil Depression is located in the Afar Region near the border with Eritrea and Ethiopia. This area is referred to as the cradle of hominids after Donald Johanson and his colleagues in 1974 found the famous Lucy Australopithecus fossil, which has been dated 3.2 million years old.[2]

The Danakil Depression is the hottest place on Earth in terms of year-round average temperatures. It is also one of the lowest places on the planet (100 m below sea level[3]), and without rain for most of the year. Here, the Awash River dries up in a chain of salt lakes never reaching the Indian Ocean.[4]

Mount Ayalu is the westernmost and older of the two volcanoes at the southern end of the Danakil Depression. The other active volcano, Erta Ale, is one of several magma crater lakes bubbling from the Earth's core. Additionally, the area contains the Dallol sulfur springs, or hot springs. These wet environments at the Danakil Depression are being investigated to help understand how life might arise on other planets and moons.[3] Any microorganisms living here will be extremophilic microbes of a major interest to astrobiologists.[3]


See also

References

  1. ↑ Beyene, Alebachew & Abdelsalam, Mohamed G. (2005). "Tectonics of the Afar Depression: A review and synthesis". Journal of African Earth Sciences 41 (1–2): 41–59. doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2005.03.003.
  2. ↑ "Danakil Depression". Insideethiopiatours.com. Retrieved 2013-12-10.
  3. 1 2 3 "Hydrothermal Systems Show Spectrum of Extreme Life on Earth". Europlanet (Astrobiology Web). April 26, 2016. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  4. ↑ "Africa's Danakil Desert - National Geographic Magazine". Ngm.nationalgeographic.com. Retrieved 2013-12-10.

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Danakil Depression.

Coordinates: 14°14′30″N 40°18′00″E / 14.2417°N 40.3°E / 14.2417; 40.3


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