Danakil Depression is one of the remotest spot in the world and the lowest part in unique land formation of the world Great Rift Valley system, still this part of the earth unstable and pulling each other to the opposite side.
Erta Ale, is one of the few volcanoes in the world that have an almost persistent lava lake; it is an isolated basaltic shield volcano, 50 km wide, rising more than 600 meter from below sea level. Absolutely unique Lava lake erupting all the time in the world, it is around crater because it is inside the rift valley system the earth still is not stable, not only for adventure trip or to see it is also the best place for study for Volcano. Still the science is not reach why and when the volcano is happening and how to save lives of many people death because of the Volcano and Earth movement.
Erta Ale means Smoking Mountain by Afar Language. At night when you walk to the volcanic hill Erta Ale 613 high you will see light from farther the at the sky walk over amazing extensive dry lava unusual topography.
Dallol, is 100 km from North West of Erta ale the lowest part of Danakil Depression 116 below sea level extremely hottest and inhospitable place but enjoyable and extraordinary colorful landscape; nearby travelers can visit Lake Asale, which is a famous salt mining lake. This precious stone salt or Amole was once used as a currency in Ethiopia. Today, hundreds of camel caravans can be found on the road daily (with the exception of Fridays and during the hottest months from March- September) transporting this salt to the north western highlands of Ethiopia.
In this region, the climate varies from around 250 C (770 F) during the rainy season to 480 C (1180 C) during the dry season (March- August). Amazingly, it is one of the hottest places year round anywhere on Earth. Only the Awash River flows into the depression, where it ends in a chain of lakes that increase in salinity….More on Danakil Depression
Lake Afrera and Lake Asale
Camel caravan in the Danakil DepressionTwo big salt lakes are found in the Danakil, Lake Afrera (also known as Afdera) and Lake Asale (sometimes named Karum, there is also a Lake Asal in Djibouti). The precious salt is harvested and with huge camel caravans transported to Mekele.
Lower valley of the Awash
Near the small village of Hadar in the lower valley of the Awash river a most spectacular discovery was made in 1974. This is when the remains of ‘Lucy’ where found. She was an early hominid, living in this area over 3 million years ago. Many more fossilized remains have been found in the area, having great impact on our knowledge of history of humankind. The lower valley of the Awash river is declared a World Heritage Site. Unfortunately it is not easy to visit the site.
Gambella
On the bank of the Baro River at the low altitude of 530 meter above sea level Gambella is a hot and steamy place. In its heydays it was a vibrant port where steamships docked to bring valuable resources from the Ethiopian highlands to Khartoum. The town itself has little to offer for the visitor but not the vicinity.
Nuer and Anuak people
The Nuer and Anuak people live in an area on the border of Ethiopia and South Sudan, the Nuer originally more at the Sudan side. They are from the same descent and speak a eastern Nilotic language. Being tall and very dark skinned they look quite different from other Ethiopian people. Although the Anuak being farmers and fisherman and the Nuer pastoralist they share a long history of tension and both suffered from unrest in the region.
Gambella National Park
Gambella National Park used to be a place teaming with wildlife, some of it not found anywhere else in Ethiopia. It’s vicinity to Sudan and a high influx of refugees in the vicinity over the years had a big impact. Still it is well worth a visit for the adventurous traveler. You might come across the white-eared kob and Nile lechwe, two animals restricted to a small area. Other species found are lion, elephant, buffalo, tiang, Lelwel hartebeest and roan antelope. The park is rewarding for birders too, with species not found elsewhere in Ethiopia.
