There are places in the world that seem to challenge all the rules of nature. Environments so extreme that they seem out of a scenario of science fiction, where human survival is almost unthinkable. In one of these places, which we will tell you next, the heat is constant, the soil releases toxic gases, the colors are unreal and life, though scarce, always finds a way to persist. It is considered by many to be one of the hottest places on the planet. What few know is that this natural phenomenon not only exists, but continues to grow and change before our eyes.
One of the lowest points on the planet
This territory, known as Danakil Depression, is located in Ethiopia located in the northeast of Africa and is about 125 meters below sea level, one of the lowest and hotter points of the earth’s surface. Temperatures exceed 45 ° C for much of the year and can stay above 35 ° C even at night, according to the BBC.
Located in an area of intense tectonic activity, where three plates slowly move away, this place is constantly in geological transformation.
A landscape exit from another planet
The landscape looks ‘extraterrestrial’: acid lakes, salt fields, visible washing volcanoes and thermal sources that release vapors in yellow, green and orange tones. The combination of heat, gas and minerals gives rise to unique scenarios in the world.
One of the region’s volcanoes maintains a permanent lava lake, attracting scientists and explorers from around the world, although access conditions are extremely demanding.
Natural Laboratory for Science
According to the source mentioned above, the conditions so unusual have awakened for decades the interest of the scientific community. Researchers believe that studying this environment can help understand how life can be developed in other planets with similar conditions such as Mars.
Despite temperatures and aggressive chemical composition, there is life in this territory. Microorganisms have adapted to extreme heat and acidity, which continues to surprise the scientific community.
Salt as an ancestral heritage
For centuries, caravans of camels crossed this desert carrying salt blocks, still manually extracted under a scorching sun. This salt was used as a bargaining chip and remains a source of support for local communities.
Work in salt maintains living ancestral traditions and marks the rhythm of life in this seemingly inhospitable region.
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Impossible
The people who inhabit this area are known for the resistance and ability to adapt to extreme conditions. They live nomadicly, they know the terrain deeply and continue to occupy a space where almost everything seems hostile, the same source refers.
Survival in this which is one of the hottest places on the planet is not only a matter of physical resistance, but also of deep knowledge of the environment and its constant changes.
A (very) fate of the ordinary
Tourism in the region is possible, but requires preparation and specialized guidance, also says. Most visits require authorization, local monitoring and, in some cases, safety escort.
Soil instability, isolation and heat make this adventure unfit for curious poorly prepared.
Those who decide to move forward find a scenario like few in the world, where nature still dictates the rules.
A place in transformation
This unique environment continues to change as the movement of tectonic plates slowly reconfigures it. Geologists believe that in the long run this place may give rise to a new ocean, the result of the progressive separation of the African continent.
Danakil’s depression, being one of the hottest places in the world, is one of the most extreme sites that there is knowledge and, for many, a reminder of how the earth can be as beautiful as it is hostile.
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