An Afar man overlooks Dallol’s psychedelic slat formations. Source: Sometimes Interesting
No matter how low you have your thermostat
set this summer, chances are your neighborhood’s heat conditions pale
in comparison to everyday temperatures in Dallol, Ethiopia. With average
temperatures consistently hovering at 94 ˚F, Dallol, Ethiopia might
just be the hottest inhabited place on the planet. The sultry Danakil
Desert surrounds the desiccated settlement, which contributes to
Dallol’s unforgivingly hot climate. The annual average high
temperature is 105 ˚F, but in June the temperatures can skyrocket to a
fiery 116 ˚F. Heat and drought pummel Dallol, making visitors feel like
they’re on another planet.
Unique geological conditions contribute to
Dallol’s seemingly Martian landscape. The region is home to both the
Dallol hydrothermal field and a volcano, which–given reports of an
incandescent ash cloud covering the area earlier this year–may have
erupted as recently as January 2015.
The volcano is one of the lowest
volcanic vents in the world, but it is Dallol’s hot springs that make
the region so visually striking. The earth releases chemical compounds
like ferrous chloride and iron hydroxide within the springs, which
harden some upon release and paint the subsequent salt deposits and
lakes a greenish white. After some time, inactive springs oxidize and
become brown just like metal rusts in the rain. The process repeats for
years, drenching an otherwise lifeless area in incredibly vibrant tones.
Sulphur and solidified black lava engulf some springs; vibrant cyan pools hide poisonous waters. Openings in the Earth’s crust, called fumaroles, spew steam and gas into the burning hot air, raising the surrounding temperature even more. This alien terrain is literally coming apart at the seams and in a hundred million years, scientists predict that the Earth will rip open and the nearby Red Sea will swallow the painted desert whole.
Dallol’s unforgiving climate has also
made it one of the most remote areas on Earth. Roads are non-existent
and camels are the only form of transport available. In spite of these
obstacles, the value of the salt produced in the region has attracted a
number of extractive firms throughout the 20th century. In the early
1900s, a mining town sprang up in the crater, soon to be filled with
Italian and American mining operations until the 1960s.
While these towns are all but abandoned today, salt merchants still travel to Dallol to collect minerals and haul it on camelback to Berhale or Mekele, where it’s transported to the Ethiopian highlands and on to Sudan. The salt fields supply nearly 100 percent of Ethiopia’s salt.
It is this salt that adds another
element of danger to the region. Dallol’s salt is worth a good deal of
money, and thus serves as a potential source of conflict–especially in
an area where various groups are vying for political and territorial
control. The armed nomadic Afar people protect it as theirs, and defend
the salt reserves–“white gold”–from encroaching thieves and rebels.
Border skirmishes are ongoing between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and often
spill into the Afar region. In fact, from 2007 to 2012 insurgent
fighters kidnapped and killed tourists and locals in various attacks.
Nevertheless, tourist excursions continue. Visitors are advised to travel with armed guards and bring plenty of water. Dallol is unlike any other place on the planet and for the brave few, a once in a lifetime opportunity. For the Afar, however, it’s just home. Take a closer look at life in the hottest place on Earth in the following images.
Source: All that is interesting
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Thursday, August 27, 2015
Welcome To Dallol, Ethiopia: The Hottest Place On Earth
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