Geologically the area is fascinating, it is the centre of the three tectonic plates that are moving apart. The African plate is moving west, the Indian plate east and the Eurasian  Plate north. Imagine a layered cake and you are bending it 3 ways from the bottom. The centre of the three cracks that appear is the Danakil Depression, except in this case the cake is a few kilometres deep.

The area is a total contrast to areas we have just driven through.

Previously at 2 to 3,000 m high we are now negative 100+ metres, green turns to brown, cool turns to hot.

In fact it is the hottest place on Earth in terms of average temperature, our  first day we recorded 45*C

At the end of the last ice age as the sea rose the Red Sea spilt over into this vast crack in the Earth’s crust.

As the sea levels later lowered the remaining salt water in the depression began to evaporate leaving fast quantities of salt.

Drill core measurements have taken it down to 800metres

The Afar peoples live here, some 1.8 million of them, and they make their living as Goat and Camel herders.

Other than that their main source of income is Salt mining.

Only the Afar can work in this area

The salt is prised from the surface using poles.

It is then cut into 5 Kilo square slabs.

Each slab will be sold for Bir5, about US$0.25C.

The Afar work in teams of up to 15 making about 50 to 100 bricks a day thus earning about US$25/day to be split between the team.

The bricks are sold to the Camel drivers who then transport them for up to 200+kms away, selling them for up to Bir 50 each ( US$2.50 ).

The salt is used for stock, not human consumption.

Fed to Camels it increases their milk production.

Our visit to the salt Lake was less energetic.

Well maybe this energetic.

These are almost pure Salt hills some 30+metres high.

The salt is mixed with other trace elements of potassium, iron, manganese and sulphur.

In places the oversaturated salt water is exposed to the surface, here is is crystal clear and some 2 metres deep.

For our Grandchildren...

Not really sure what it means but

and my golden girl !