New Delhi, March 26: The world is home to many places where nature reveals both beauty and danger. One such location is the Dallol region in Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression, known as one of the most perilous and unique spots on Earth. This area features hydrothermal systems with salt chimneys, hot springs, and highly acidic water.
Dallol is situated atop a volcanic crater filled with salt. Due to geothermal activity, boiling water and toxic gases continuously escape from this crater.
According to NASA, the region appears colorful and psychedelic. Yellow deposits are formed from sulfates, red areas are rich in iron oxide, and copper salts give the water a green hue. The temperature of the supersaturated water can exceed 94 degrees Celsius, while the pH level can drop to as low as 0.25, making it extremely acidic. The area is also highly saline, with salt chimneys being a common sight.
An international team led by Dr. Felipe Gomez from Spain’s Astrobiology Center studied this region. Samples were collected during a field trip to Ethiopia in January 2017, and the findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports. The team gathered samples from the walls of yellow salt chimneys and nearby blue water pools. These samples were transported to Spain for analysis using electron microscopy, chemical analysis, and DNA sequencing. Recently, scientists discovered tiny bacteria thriving in these harsh conditions.
The researchers found small spherical structures in the salt samples that contained a high amount of carbon. These structures were of biological origin and are 20 times smaller than typical bacteria. Dr. Gomez noted, “This is a unique multi-extreme environment. Organisms here must survive extreme temperatures, high salinity, and very low pH. These bacteria thrive in such conditions, raising the question of whether they adapted to these circumstances or evolved from them.”
Dallol lies approximately 125-155 meters below sea level. Geothermal activity brings hot water, minerals, and gases to the surface. The area is centered around a small volcano formed in 1926. Dallol is considered the hottest inhabited place on Earth, with average temperatures ranging from 34 to 35 degrees Celsius year-round. Boiling water in hot springs releases highly acidic, saline, and toxic gases. The colorful minerals (yellow, red, green) give it an otherworldly appearance. Toxic gases like chlorine and sulfur linger in the air, making survival nearly impossible for humans, yet microorganisms thrive here.
Scientists regard Dallol as an excellent analog for the ancient Martian environment due to its hydrothermal activity, acidity, and mineral composition. The Danakil Depression is among the hottest places on Earth due to its equatorial location, volcanic activity, and depth below sea level. Minerals such as silver chloride, zinc iron sulfide, manganese dioxide, and rock salt emerge from superheated water, making this discovery intriguing for the study of extremophiles.
Many organisms on Earth can survive radiation, extreme depths of ice, high altitudes, or even in spacecraft. The Dallol region bears resemblance to locations like Mars’ Gusev Crater, where NASA’s Spirit rover landed. The team also published a review in the Astrobiology Journal, highlighting the similarities between Dallol and Martian hydrothermal environments.
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