Ethiopia's Danakil Depression
August 08, 2025
Photographer: Alessandra Masi
Summary Author: Alessandra Masi
The Danakil Depression is one of the most extreme and inhospitable places on our planet, where geology, climate, and living things come together in a unique and spectacular way. Found in the Afar Triangle of Ethiopia and Eritrea, this geological depression formed from the divergence of tectonic plates. Lying 394 ft (120 m) below sea level, the Danakil Depression is the third-lowest-lying area in Africa. Here, extreme heat and volcanic activity have shaped an extraordinary landscape: acidic ponds in surreal colors blend with iron deposits, sulfur crusts and flows of sulfur as well.
Everything about this depression evokes a profound sense of wonder. First-time visitors feel as though they're on another planet. The above photos were taken at Dallol, Ethiopia, in the northern part of the Afar Triangle.
Danakil Depression, Ethiopia Coordinates: 14.2417, 40.3
Related Links:
Danakil Depression, Ethiopia
Smoky Mountain Lava Lake
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