Danakil - a desert reminiscent of gloomy alien landscapes

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

It is believed that one of the most inhospitable places on our earth is in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, fans of extreme recreation pay a lot of money to visit such an unusual corner, the landscapes of which resemble the scenery for a science fiction film.

Surprisingly, the semi-nomadic Afar people, who consider the mysterious area their home, live in an almost uninhabitable area.

Tough territory

Danakil is a desert of volcanic origin, which is a danger to all living things. Located in the north of the country, it was opened to Europeans in 1928 by travelers who covered a huge distance. In the harshest place on earth, a tectonic plate is breaking apart under the influence of volcanic activity and earthquakes. Through the gaps that have appeared, the burning lava comes out of the depths.

Erta Ale - volcanic lake

The Erta Ale volcanic lake is an incredibly attractive and extremely dangerous sight. The hot lava inside the raging cauldron, which has not slept for more than fifty years, sometimes breaks out to the surface, absorbing everything living under it, and the solidified magma around it forms gloomy compositions spread over a vast territory.

If an outburst occurs, then the inhospitable Danakil (desert) will dress in dark clothes of ashes, and the blue empty sky will be covered with a gray veil. The constantly bubbling dot attracts adventurous adventurers like a magnet.

Local Attractions

The nearby Dallol volcano is considered the lowest point of the African state. Its uneven surface is visible from afar due to its unusually bright color: a green-orange palette, shimmering in all sorts of shades, is the result of the release of poisonous gases.

Assal S alt Lake is a peculiar attraction of an exotic place called Danakil. The desert keeps in the heart of this fantastically beautiful reservoir, reminiscent of the Uyuni s alt flat in Bolivia.

The shore of the emerald lake is strewn with crystals, forming fantastic figures and silhouettes, in which everyone sees something of their own. Probably, under the influence of the mystical zone, demonic characters seem to many. And of course, no one leaves without souvenirs - pieces of s alt covering the water surface.

A monster created by nature

The most dangerous desert for humansDanakil, whose photo resembles creepy alien landscapes, takes travelers to a dangerous world with a lack of moisture, poisonous sulfuric fumes, a scorching sun, and the possibility of a volcanic eruption. However, year by year, those wishing to visit these places do not decrease.

Constant seismic activity is destroying the tectonic plates, and they form jagged rises in one place, exposing horrific failures in another. It is unlikely that an ordinary traveler would want to travel thousands of kilometers and spend a fortune not only to look at the territory of the famous Danakil Desert, but also at the cost of his own life to be exposed to threats lurking at every step.

Hell for thrill-seekers

Incredibly dangerous squally wind "sumum", raging in this gloomy corner of the earth, covers the faces of travelers with hot sand, burning and making it impossible to breathe normally. However, even in rare moments of calm, it is very difficult: toxic secretions can cause serious poisoning, and then this trip will be the last one.

The abnormally high temperature of the desert, coupled with fumes, make long stays dangerous for Europeans, while the depressing scenery of the gloomy area and the general atmosphere entail both physical and psychological tests.

However, this becomes the very stimulant for extreme lovers, although even they admit that the poisonous beauty of the Danakil desert literally drains energy.

Danger from local tribes

The 'Branch of the Underworld', as this bleak territory is called, beckons all the adventurers looking for an adrenaline rush. The situation is aggravated by the fact that aggressive local tribes have long been fighting for the right to own this place, the conflicts of which develop into armed bloodshed.

The main treasure of this place is s alt, which has been mined for many decades and used as a currency, exchanging clothes, food and even people for it. The white mineral has been sent to the mainland since time immemorial, and Afars now drive along the remaining trails from laden caravans.

And while the question of the desert's ownership is not settled, any visit to it turns into "Russian roulette" for the traveler. By the way, even the children of the tribe are armed to the teeth and pose a serious danger to tourists.

However, the number of travelers choosing this sinister place instead of a comfortable stay is not decreasing. Those who dream of touching the pristine nature and the sad beauty of Danakil come from all over the world.

The desert provides a unique opportunity for everyone to see what our land looked like before the advent of civilization. And someone, perhaps, will imagine that he has fallen into a mysterious alien territory that holds many mysteries and dangers.