Dallol, in Ethiopia

Hyperacid crater lakes and hydrothermal vents on the Dallol volcano, an environment that is unique on the planet, located in the Danakil depression in Ethiopia. The green colour of the water is due to the presence of reduced iron in solution. In January 2016, researchers undertook a scientific expedition in this region located on the rift that traverses the Afar region and one of only two places on Earth where the oceanic crust emerges on the surface. It is a multi-extreme environment, which…

Fumerole field on the Dallol volcano, an environment that is unique on the planet, located in the Danakil depression in Ethiopia. These fumeroles give off very hot gases rich in sulphuric acid. In January 2016, researchers undertook a scientific expedition in this region located on the rift that traverses the Afar region and one of only two places on Earth where the oceanic crust emerges on the surface. It is a multi-extreme environment, which combines very high temperatures (up to 115 °C),…

Salt canyons on the Dallol volcano in the Danakil depression in Ethiopia. In January 2016, researchers undertook a scientific expedition in this region located on the rift that traverses the Afar region and one of only two places on Earth where the oceanic crust emerges on the surface. It is a multi-extreme environment, which combines very high temperatures (up to 115 °C), very low pH (values are often negative), high saline saturation (30-50%) and the presence of toxic gas. It is a perfect…

Active molten bischofite flow (hydrated magnesium chloride) at a temperature of 115° on the salt plain in the Danakil depression in Ethiopia. In January 2016, researchers undertook a scientific expedition in this region located on the rift that traverses the Afar region and one of only two places on Earth where the oceanic crust emerges on the surface. It is a multi-extreme environment, which combines very high temperatures (up to 115 °C), very low pH (values are often negative), high saline…

Solidified bischofite flow (hydrated magnesium chloride) on the salt plain in the Danakil depression in Ethiopia. In January 2016, researchers undertook a scientific expedition in this region located on the rift that traverses the Afar region and one of only two places on Earth where the oceanic crust emerges on the surface. It is a multi-extreme environment, which combines very high temperatures (up to 115 °C), very low pH (values are often negative), high saline saturation (30-50%) and the…

Field of hot springs on the Black Mountain in the Danakil depression in Ethiopia. In January 2016, researchers undertook a scientific expedition in this region located on the rift that traverses the Afar region and one of only two places on Earth where the oceanic crust emerges on the surface. It is a multi-extreme environment, which combines very high temperatures (up to 115 °C), very low pH (values are often negative), high saline saturation (30-50%) and the presence of toxic gas. It is a…

Fumerole field on the Dallol volcano, an environment that is unique on the planet, located in the Danakil depression in Ethiopia. In January 2016, researchers undertook a scientific expedition in this region located on the rift that traverses the Afar region and one of only two places on Earth where the oceanic crust emerges on the surface. It is a multi-extreme environment, which combines very high temperatures (up to 115 °C), very low pH (values are often negative), high saline saturation (30…

Fumerole field on the Dallol volcano, an environment that is unique on the planet, located in the Danakil depression in Ethiopia. These fumeroles give off very hot gases rich in sulphuric acid. In January 2016, researchers undertook a scientific expedition in this region located on the rift that traverses the Afar region and one of only two places on Earth where the oceanic crust emerges on the surface. It is a multi-extreme environment, which combines very high temperatures (up to 115 °C),…

Collecting samples from hyperacid crater lakes on the Dallol volcano in the Danakil depression in Ethiopia. The green colour of the water is due to the presence of reduced iron in solution. A multi-parameter probe is used to measure the temperature, pH, oxygen concentration, conductivity and redox potential. The samples will be analysed to find extremophile micro-organisms adapted to the conditions of the site. The aim is to study their molecular adaptation to the extreme physical-chemical…

Close up of a fumerole on the Dallol volcano, an environment that is unique on the planet, located in the Danakil depression in Ethiopia. This fumerole gives off very hot gases rich in sulphuric acid. In January 2016, researchers undertook a scientific expedition in this region located on the rift that traverses the Afar region and one of only two places on Earth where the oceanic crust emerges on the surface. It is a multi-extreme environment, which combines very high temperatures (up to 115 …

The Danakil salt plain in Ethiopia. The Danakil is an ancient branch of the Red Sea that has dried out and is now filled with a layer of salt of more than 2 km thick. In January 2016, researchers undertook a scientific expedition in this region located on the rift that traverses the Afar region and one of only two places on Earth where the oceanic crust emerges on the surface. It is a multi-extreme environment, which combines very high temperatures (up to 115 °C), very low pH (values are often…

Hydrothermal vent in the hot spring field on the Black Mountain in the Danakil depression in Ethiopia. In January 2016, researchers undertook a scientific expedition in this region located on the rift that traverses the Afar region and one of only two places on Earth where the oceanic crust emerges on the surface. It is a multi-extreme environment, which combines very high temperatures (up to 115 °C), very low pH (values are often negative), high saline saturation (30-50%) and the presence of…

Black Lake in the Danakil depression in Ethiopia. This hot lake (70°C) is filled of a solution saturated with magnesium chloride. In January 2016, researchers undertook a scientific expedition in this region located on the rift that traverses the Afar region and one of only two places on Earth where the oceanic crust emerges on the surface. It is a multi-extreme environment, which combines very high temperatures (up to 115 °C), very low pH (values are often negative), high saline saturation (30…

Field of hot springs on the Black Mountain in the Danakil depression in Ethiopia. In January 2016, researchers undertook a scientific expedition in this region located on the rift that traverses the Afar region and one of only two places on Earth where the oceanic crust emerges on the surface. It is a multi-extreme environment, which combines very high temperatures (up to 115 °C), very low pH (values are often negative), high saline saturation (30-50%) and the presence of toxic gas. It is a…

Collecting samples from a mud volcano in the Danakil depression in Ethiopia. A multi-parameter probe is used to measure the temperature, pH, oxygen concentration, conductivity and redox potential. The samples will be analysed to find extremophile micro-organisms adapted to the conditions of the site. The aim is to study their molecular adaptation to the extreme physical-chemical parameters that characterise the local environment. In January 2016, researchers undertook a scientific expedition in…

Collecting samples from the Yellow Lake, a hyper-saline lake subject to strong hydrothermal activity, in the Danakil depression in Ethiopia. A multi-parameter probe is used to measure the temperature, pH, oxygen concentration, conductivity and redox potential. The samples will be analysed to find extremophile micro-organisms adapted to the conditions of the site. The aim is to study their molecular adaptation to the extreme physical-chemical parameters that characterise the local environment…

Hydrothermal vent on the Dallol volcano, an environment that is unique on the planet, located in the Danakil depression in Ethiopia. The green colour of the water is due to the presence of reduced iron in solution. In January 2016, researchers undertook a scientific expedition in this region located on the rift that traverses the Afar region and one of only two places on Earth where the oceanic crust emerges on the surface. It is a multi-extreme environment, which combines very high…