π Danakil Depression
Geothermal depression and lowest point in Africa, located in northeastern Ethiopia
π Fast Facts
- Elevation: 410 metres below sea level at lowest point
- Location: Afar Region, northeastern Ethiopia
- Area: Approximately 200,000 square kilometres
- Geothermal features: Active salt deposits, lava lakes, and sulphur springs
Danakil Depression is a geothermal zone in northeastern Ethiopia that contains the lowest point on the African continent. The depression lies in the Afar Region, a remote and sparsely populated area where three tectonic plates convergeβthe African, Arabian, and Somali plates. As of 2026, the Danakil Depression remains largely inaccessible to casual visitors due to extreme environmental conditions, political instability in the region, and the hazardous nature of the landscape itself, though ...