NATURE’S MARVELS

Colourful features in Danakil Depression ( Source: The Atlantic) Danakil Depression Uniquely Extreme Region Shivani

Danakil’s hot spring (Source: The Atlantic) Mineral deposition near Dallol Lake (Source: The Atlantic)

60 | Science Reporter | February 2020 Water sputters from the tip of a cone on a small geyser (Source: The Atlantic) Sulfur lake in Danakil Depression (Source: The Atlantic)

N the northern part of salt flats and appear like Mars. It seems continental rifting of Afar triangle in , lies a unique place that due to intense hot climate water junction. with extreme climate conditions — evaporates leaving behind the pans of I • The longest erupted volcano named Danakil Depression. Danakil depression salt. Sometimes toxic gases are also with complex geological history is one released from the craters. , also lies in the region of of the hottest, driest and lowest places Hot springs and hydrothermal pools Afar triangle. on Earth. The Danakil depression is in the region are full of microbes such • The average annual temperature of situated about 100 metres below sea level as that can withstand high Danakil Depression is 94 degree and its volcanic region is known for its temperature, toxic volcanic gases, high Fahrenheit or 24.4 degree Celsius. wonderful geology. metal concentrations like iron and high The geological depression is caused saline and acid content. Most of the • In overall area of Danakil by the Afar triple junction — the region extremophiles are primitive organisms Depression there are thousands of where three tectonic plates join. The called prokaryotic microbes and are sulphuric acid pools which are a depression overlaps the borders of the the most ancient life forms present on direct indication of titanic stirrings entire of Ethiopia and the earth. Apart from extremophiles, and volcanic activities. is also the part of the East African halophiles are also found in Dallol Rift Valley. The rift valley system is which can survive in saline conditions. • Volcanic lava oozes out in different the active volcanic region where the But, when researchers isolated the combination of colours like blue, tectonic plates are drifting apart at the bacteria and their DNA for genetic green, yellow and red. rate of approximately 1-2 cm per year. sequencing, most of them were found to • Mounds of salt push the lava to flow Therefore, the depression is all over be chemolithotrops. The chemolithotrops up to a height of 100 metres. dotted with lava lakes, commonly called collect energy from inorganic compounds dallol, and appear as a scarry landscape and are found in hot water on the surface • The depression is one of the most in the night sky. of mineral chimneys. These microbes do geologically active place as well as The reason for the harsh environment not require sunlight are usually found molten, acidic and bubbling expanse is the splitting of the oldest African plates in harsh environment like hydrothermal of land. into two plates, the Somali and Nubian vents. Plates. It is expected that millions of People live there and are adapted to • The Danakil Depression is a years ahead the two plates will definitely extreme weather conditions. In fact, the combination of many minerals, be separated giving birth to a new ocean depression also hosts the world’s unique salts, sulphur and dissolved iron. basin in the future. river Awash which is surrounded by the Danakil’s Depression has white narrow fertile belt. Awash is unique as it • Pools of Dankil boast a pH level salt dome volcanoes, yolk coloured never ends into any sea and flows within below one. lattices of sulphuric crust, purplish red the Ethiopian boundary and finally • Danakil is considered to be one of crumbles and boiling pools of acidic flows down into lakes in the Danakil the most barren ecosystems in the water bubble. The iron-rich rocks are Depression. world. bulged out into flat mushroom shapes. With a combo of geology and The ground always emits bubbling environment Danakil Depression is • Danakil Depression surrounding liquid. Most of the Danakil Depression a unique place with extreme climate land was once part of the red sea. floor is covered by mounds of salt flats conditions to carry out research. and other areas covered by cinder cones, Interesting Facts flows and shield volcanoes. If we Contributed by Ms Shivani, Research see several miles across the depression • The Danakil Depression or geological Intern, Science Reporter, CSIR-NISCAIR, various craters are seen which appear as depression is the outcome of New Delhi

February 2020 | Science Reporter | 61