Danakil Depression

Short description of Danakil Depression

The Danakil lies more than a hundred metres below sea level and is reckoned the hottest inhabited place on the planet, a spreading plate boundary where the crust is pulling apart on land. Dallol is its centrepiece, a hydrothermal field of acid pools in sulphur yellow and rust that looks like no other ground on earth. Erta Ale to the south is a shield volcano whose famous lava lake drained in an eruption and has not come back. Afar workers still cut salt slabs from the flats and carry them out by camel. Tours run in escorted convoys only.

AI edited

Recommended length of stay

Travel seasons at a glance

Best time to visit: November – February

• Jan
• Feb
• Mar
• Apr
• May
• Jun
• Jul
• Aug
• Sep
• Oct
• Nov
• Dec

All highlights and sights

1. The acid springs and salt terraces of Dallol
2. The salt flats of Lake Karum and the camel caravans
3. The caldera of Erta Ale and its hornitos
4. Afar salt cutters at work on the pan
5. The salt canyons below Dallol
6. The night walk across the lava field
7. The hot spring bath at Lake Afrera
8. The bubbling yellow lake at Gaet'ale
9. The salt miners camp at Ahmed Ela
10. Desert night skies from the camps

Ways to get there and away

Airports nearby:

• MQX Mekele Alula Aba Nega Airport (Mekele) · 119 km southwest
• AXU Axum Airport (Axum) · 165 km west
• SZE Semera Airport (Semera) · 283 km south(recommended)

Nearest seaport:

• ferry port near Massawa · 176 km northwest

Ports: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Map view

Distances

More travel destinations in Ethiopia

• Addis Ababa
• Aksum
• Lalibela
• Jinka
• Bahir Dar
• Gondar
• Simien Mountains
• Harar
• Bale Mountains
• Arba Minch
• Bishoftu
• Debre Libanos