The Danakil Depression: The Hottest Place on Earth

Embedded in the horn of Africa is a region called the Afar Triangle. It's kilometers from any settlements and seems to offer little in the way of hospitality. Geologically, however, it's a scientific treasure trove. This desolate, desert region is the home of the Danakil Depression, a place that seems more alien than Earth-like. It's the hottest place on Earth and during the summer months, temperatures can get up to a high of 55 degrees Celsius (131 degrees Fahrenheit) thanks to geothermal heat caused by volcanic activity.

Danakil is dotted with lava lakes that bubble inside the volcanic calderas of the Dallol area, and hot springs and hydrothermal pools permeate the air with the distinct rotten-egg smell of sulfur. The youngest volcano, called Dallol, is relatively new. It first erupted in 1926. The whole region is more than 100 meters below sea level, making it one of the lowest places on the planet. Amazingly, despite its toxic environment and lack of rainfall, it's home to some lifeforms, including microbes.

What Formed the Danakil Depression?

This region of Africa, which spans about 40 by 10 kilometers in area, is bordered by mountains and a high plateau. It formed as Earth pulled apart at the seams of plate boundaries. It's technically called a "depression" and was shaped when three tectonic plates underlying Africa and Asia began moving apart millions of years ago. At one time, the region was covered by ocean waters, which laid down thick layers of sedimentary rock and limestone. Then, as the plates moved further apart, a rift valley formed, with the depression inside. Currently, the surface is sinking as the old African plate splits into the Nubian and Somali plates. As this happens, the surface will continue to settle down and that will change the shape of the landscape even more.

Notable Features in the Danakil Depression

Danakil has some very extreme features. There's a large salt dome volcano called Gada Ale that measures two kilometers across and has spread lava around the region. Nearby bodies of water include a salt lake, called Lake Karum, 116 meters below sea level. Not far away is another very salty (hypersaline) lake called Afrera. The Catherine shield volcano has been around for just under a million years, covering the surrounding desert area with ash and lava. There are also major salt deposits in the region. Despite the dangerous temperatures and other conditions, that salt is a major economic boon. The Afar people mine it and transport it to nearby cities for trade via camel routes across the desert.

Life in the Danakil

It would seem that life would be nearly impossible in Danakil. However, it's pretty tenacious. Hydrothermal pools and hot springs in the region are teeming with microbes. Such organisms are called "extremophiles" because they thrive in extreme environments, like the inhospitable Danakil Depression. These extremophiles can withstand high temperature, toxic volcanic gases in the air, high metal concentrations in the ground, and high saline and acid content in the ground and air. Most extremophiles in the Danakil Depression are extremely primitive organisms called prokaryotic microbes. They are amongthe most ancient life forms on our planet.

As inhospitable as the environment is around Danakil, it seems that this area played a role in the evolution of humanity. In 1974, researchers led by paleoanthropologist Donald Johnson found the fossil remains of an Australopithecus woman nicknamed "Lucy". The scientific name for her species is "australopithecus afarensis" as a tribute to the region where she and fossils of others of her kind have been found. That discovery has led to this region being dubbed the "cradle of humanity".

The Future of Danakil

As the tectonic plates underlying the Danakil Depression continue their slow movement apart (at about three millimeters a year), the land will continue to drop farther below sea level. Volcanic activity will continue as the rift created by the moving plates widens.

In a few million years, the Red Sea will come pouring into the area, extending its reach and perhaps forming a new ocean. For now, the region draws scientists to research the types of life that exist there and map the extensive hydrothermal "plumbing" that underlies the region. Inhabitants continue to mine salt. Planetary scientists are also interested in the geology and life forms here because they may hold clues to whether or not similar regions elsewhere in the solar system could also support life. There is even a limited amount of tourism that takes hardy travelers into this "hell on Earth."

Sources

Cumming, Vivien. “Earth - This Alien World Is the Hottest Place on Earth.” BBC News, BBC, 15 June 2016, www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160614-the-people-and-creatures-living-in-earths-hottest-place.
Earth, NASA's Visible. “Curiosities of the Danakil Depression.” NASA, NASA, 11 Aug. 2009, visibleearth.nasa.gov/view.php?id=84239.
Holland, Mary. “7 Incredible Natural Wonders of Africa.” National Geographic, National Geographic, 18 Aug. 2017, www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/africa/unexpected-places-to-go/.

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Petersen, Carolyn Collins. "The Danakil Depression: The Hottest Place on Earth." ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/the-danakil-depression-4154294. Petersen, Carolyn Collins. (2020, August 27). The Danakil Depression: The Hottest Place on Earth. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/the-danakil-depression-4154294 Petersen, Carolyn Collins. "The Danakil Depression: The Hottest Place on Earth." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/the-danakil-depression-4154294 (accessed May 2, 2024).