Denakil Depression, Afar Triangle, Afar people, Dallol, Erta Ale active volcano- one of Africa’s most striking geographical features is a giant tear across the earth’s surface visible even from space: the Great Rift Valley. Extending from the Middle East to Mozambique, the Rift Valley passes in a north-easterly to South-westerly direction right through Ethiopia, endowing the country with some spectacular sights range from hot, dry and barren places to a string of beautiful lakes.
This tremendous collapse of the earth’s surface occurred at the same time that the Arabia Peninsula, geologically a part of Africa. The Afar Depression is a plate tectonic triple junction where the spreading ridges that are forming the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden emerge on land and meet the East African Rift. The Afar Depression is one of two places on Earth where a mid-ocean ridge can be studied on land, the other being Iceland. While you visit this stunning nature gift you will experience one of the lowest places on earth 120 meter below sea level at Dallol, the breathtaking mineral colors with salt mountains with bubbling spring, Lake Asala, traditional salt extraction by the Afar and Tigray people, Afdera salt lake with Ertale active volcano and much more adventure.