Touted as one of Earth's most volcanic regions, Dallol in Danakil Desert of has long been abandoned. Except a few locals, or 'Afar' as they are called, the region is hardly visited by tourists.
Death Valley, California, USAThe aptly named Furnace Creek currently holds the record for hottest air temperature ever recorded. The desert valley reached highs of 56.7 degrees in the summer of 1913, which would apparently push the limits of human survival.
The Danakil Desert is a desert in northeast Ethiopia, southern Eritrea, and northwestern Djibouti. Situated in the Afar Triangle, it stretches across 136,956 square kilometres (52,879 sq mi) of arid terrain. The Danakil Desert is one of the lowest and hottest places on Earth.
The Danakil Depression, in the northeastern corner of Ethiopia, has the distinction of being the hottest place on earth, with recorded temperatures of 125 degrees. It's sometimes called "the gateway to Hell." The lava lake in the Erta Ale volcano is one of only 4 living lava lakes in the world.
The turquoise lake in the crater of the Kawah Ijen volcano looks serene and inviting. It also happens to be the world's largest acidic lake. The water in the crater lake has a pH less than 0.3 on a scale of 0 to 14 (7 is neutral).
No peak in Ethiopia is permanently snow covered. The largest area of continuous plateau is the central part of the country, north and northeast of Addis Ababa and south of the Blue Nile River.
Compared with many African countries, Ethiopia is remarkably safe – most of the time. Serious or violent crime is rare; against travellers it's extremely rare. Outside the capital, the risk of petty crime drops still further. A simple tip for travellers: always look as if you know where you're going.
Ethiopia is known as the Cradle of Mankind, with some of the earliest ancestors found buried in the soil. Lucy (3.5 million years old), the most famous fossils found, were unearthed in Hadar. Ethiopia remains one of the only nations in Africa never to be colonized.
The average daily mean is around 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius), but average highs for the hottest month, June, exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius).
Ethiopia is in the tropical zone laying between the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer.
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.
The Danakil depression, the source of virtually all salt sold in Ethiopia, is a cocktail of salt flats, volcanoes, sulfur fields and red rocks. It is synonymous with sweltering heat, where temperatures average 34 degrees Celsius and at times climb to 50 degrees.
Large animals native to the park include Beisa oryx, Soemmering's gazelle, gerenuk and Grevy's zebra. Bird species of interest include Lesser Flamingo, Kori Bustard andPale Rockfinch.
Location Maps - Danakil depression, Afar Region, Ethiopia
| Latitude & Longitude (WGS84): | 14° 14' 30'' North , 40° 17' 59'' East |
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| Latitude & Longitude (Decimal Degrees): | 14.241666666667 , 40.299722222222 |
| Latitude & Longitude (Degrees plus Decimal Minutes): | 14° 14.5', 40° 17.983333333333' |
Indeed, as unrest spread and a state of emergency was imposed in Ethiopia in the last half of 2016 as a result of widespread protests, Erta Ale and the Danakil Depression were among the safest places to travel in the country.
Re: Is it safe to visit the Danakil Depression / Erta Ale area. Danakil Depression is safe than ever.
Ethiopia was never colonized by a European power, but was occupied by Italians in 1936 (see below); however, several colonial powers had interests and designs on Ethiopia in the context of the 19th-century "Scramble for Africa."
