Travel Guide Dallol Depression

It's an incredible place, one of the most spectacular on the planet, for its Martian landscapes and hostile desert environment. The hotspot lies 136.8 m below sea level (hence the term "depression"), on the border with Eritrea, on a mineral plateau created by a volcanic hotspot. A palette of multicolored minerals can be explored on foot in this desolate landscape, battered by wind and heat. Visitors come in military convoys under heavy guard to admire this living marvel of nature. Small natural fountains of sulfuric acid (don't touch!) spill out of rock formations secreted by the soil. They resemble works of art saturated with color: white, yellow, emerald green, red, brown... due to the presence of sulfides, salts, irons and numerous oxidized minerals. A true natural beauty and a real highlight of any trip to Ethiopia.Hamed Ela. This Afar village lies on the edge of the Dallol depression and Lake Assalé. This is where expedition groups come to sleep, in difficult conditions (heat, wind, dust). On a mattress of woven rope, we sleep under the stars, protected from the wind, before setting off on our expeditions. There are no showers or toilets in the camp, so we make do as best we can, but there can be no comfort here.Health warning: the heat is such that conditions are extreme and not recommended for people with health problems, with the thermometer climbing to 48°C. Exits from the air-conditioned car to one of the hottest spots on the planet, especially the Dallol Depression, are short, and it's best to cover up with loose-fitting clothing to protect against sunburn. Wear glasses and a cap, especially in the salt desert, follow the guide and the scout between the fragile plates, as there have already been sulphuric acid casualties who have ventured off the guided path, wear closed shoes, of course drink plenty of water, as sunstroke is also common, and never stay alone away from the group.