Danakil Depression: salt, rift and fire near Dallol
Published on 09/16/2026 at 06:55 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
In northern Ethiopia, the Danakil Depression near Dallol presents a rare combination of a deep rift basin, widespread salt plains and vivid geothermal fields within a compact landscape. It lies in the Afar Region at the junction of several tectonic plates and forms part of the East African Rift System, linking geological processes with a terrain that is strikingly arid and mineral-rich.
A young ocean rift below sea level
The Danakil Depression is a narrow basin aligned roughly north–south between the Ethiopian Plateau and the Danakil microplate, also known as the Danakil Alps or Mountains.The Dallol geothermal area is part of the Danakil Depression Much of the basin floor lies below sea level and reaches around 120 m beneath it in places, making this lowland one of the deeper continental depressions on Earth.The Danakil depression is a N-S basin down to 120 m below sea level
Geologically, the Danakil Depression forms the northern segment of the Afar rift, where the Nubian, Somalian and Arabian plates meet alongside the Danakil microplate.The Danakil Depression is a large valley caused by extension between tectonic plates Over geological time, spreading of the crust has created a young oceanic rift structure, with faulted slopes framing a low-lying floor dotted with shield volcanoes, lava flows and sedimentary basins filled with salt.
Salt plains shaped by ancient seas
The northern part of the Danakil Depression around Dallol is dominated by an extensive salt plain, sometimes referred to as the Dallol or Assale salt flat.Axial shield volcanoes typify the southern part, while the northern part hosts a large salt plain Thick sequences of evaporites, including substantial layers of halite, underlie the basin and record repeated episodes when seawater or saline waters flooded the depression and then evaporated in a hot, dry climate.Thick evaporite sequences of gypsum and halite were deposited as seawater evaporated
Near Dallol, studies describe an evaporite succession at least several hundred metres thick, with lower and upper rock salt formations separated by potash-bearing units and other mineral-rich layers.A succession of evaporites at least 970 m thick is made up of halite units and potash-bearing formations The result on the surface is a salt crust that stretches for kilometres, interrupted by low rises such as the Dallol dome and by shallow basins where brine collects. The impression for a visitor is of layered white and pale surfaces under a wide sky, with very little vegetation breaking the mineral ground.
Dallol dome and geothermal colours
Within this salt plain, the Dallol dome forms a compact halo-volcanic structure that rises tens of metres above the surrounding flat.The dome of Dallol consists of protruding bedded-halite and anhydrite layers It resembles a low shield, built from bedded halite and anhydrite that dip gently outwards and are partly covered by geothermal deposits. The dome sits within a broader salt pan that occupies the central part of the northern depression and frames the geothermal area.
The Dallol geothermal field has drawn scientific attention for its combination of hydrothermal springs, brine pools and salt chimneys within an extremely acidic and saline setting.A large variety of hydro-geothermal features are found at Dallol On the ground this appears as terraces, mounds and pools with intense yellow, green and orange colours, shaped by mineral precipitation from hot fluids rising through the salt sequence. Steam, gas emissions and continuous mineral deposition give the surface a changing texture, contrasting sharply with the flatter salt crust surrounding the dome.
Landscape and climate in the Afar lowlands
The wider Danakil Depression extends for around 250 km as a lowland plain between the Ethiopian Plateau and the Danakil highlands.The Danakil Depression is a narrow lowland plain about 250 km long Its floor is broken by faults and dotted with volcanic centres such as the Erta Ale range to the south, where shield volcanoes and lava fields rise above the salt basins.The region includes Ert’ale volcano, the Dallol geothermal area and several salt lakes In cross-section, the depression shows layers of Miocene and younger sediments and volcanics, including gypsiferous clastic rocks, coral-bearing limestones and Quaternary salt formations.
Climatically, the Danakil Depression lies in a hyperarid zone with very low rainfall and high air temperatures across the year.Dallol is a desert that receives less than 200 mm of rainfall a year The combination of intense heat, strong evaporation and limited surface water reinforces the dominance of salt and evaporite minerals in the landscape. For travellers, this translates into a terrain where shade is scarce, surfaces reflect light strongly and any excursion across the plain needs to reckon with heat and dryness as constant conditions.
Visiting Danakil Depression: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Danakil Depression lies in the Afar Region of northern Ethiopia, with access to Dallol generally arranged from towns on the Ethiopian Plateau by road vehicles.
- The terrain around Dallol consists largely of flat salt crust and mineral terraces, with short ascents onto low domes and uneven surfaces that require firm footwear.
- In this hyperarid lowland, shade and water sources are sparse away from vehicles or camps, and excursions commonly take place across exposed ground under strong sun.
- The official language is Amharic and the currency is the Ethiopian birr.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Danakil Depression
Where is the Danakil Depression located?
The Danakil Depression lies in the Afar Region of northern Ethiopia and extends towards the border with Eritrea, with the Dallol area in its northern sector.
What should visitors expect when travelling to Danakil Depression?
Travellers encounter an extremely hot, arid lowland of salt plains, geothermal fields and sparse infrastructure, where organised trips focus on mineral landscapes and volcanic features.
What makes the Danakil Depression distinctive among geological sites?
It combines an actively rifting basin below sea level with thick evaporite deposits, extensive salt flats and vivid hydrothermal features around Dallol within a single reachable area.
