It is located in the afar region of Ethiopia. It is 100 meters below sea level. It is one of the hottest inhabited places on earth with average daily maximum temperature of about 48Oc.
This region is famous for being the cradle of mankind as it was here that various human fossils were discovered: Ardi (Ardipithecus ramidus) and Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis).
Apart from the dallol depression, afar is also home to the mount Erta Ale (or Ert’ale-smoking Mountain in afar language), is known to hold the longest existing lava lake in its summit. It is also notable for being the longest existing lava lake, present since the early years of the twentieth century.
The dallol depression is quite rich in mineral resources like salt and potash.
The Danakil depression – specifically the area surrounding Lake Afdera-is the place from which much of salt production in Ethiopia comes. In the past, the salt blocks-called amole-were used allover Ethiopia as money.
The local inhabitants guard and manage this “white gold” as their greatest treasure.
What is truly amazing about the Dallol or Danakil depression is the beauty of the space. The salt flats, the desert and the myriads of colors that the landscape has in general. There are blues, whites, yellows, purples, reds and green in a place where not even a single leaf grows. These colors are the volcanic nature of the area.
