Danakil Depression  Attractions “Feel cool “at the hottest place on planet earth Bonanza of geological fascination camping near active volcano Breathtaking sulphur caked flowers and hot springs Thousands of Camels on caravan loaded with salt bars Villages of Afar Tribe where the first humans lived The Danakil is an area of singular geological fascination: a strange lunar landscape studded with active volcanoes, malodorous sulfur- caked hot springs, solidified black lava flows, and vast salt-encrusted basins. It is some measure of the Danakil’s geological activity that more than 30 active or dormant volcanoes-roughly one-quarter of the African total are listed by the Smithsonian Institute Global Volcanism Program. These volcanoes are all geological infants, having formed over the past million years, and a great many took their present shape within the last 10,000. The most regularly visited volcanic range in the Danakil is Erta Ale, which consists of seven active peaks extending over an area of 2,350 km square between Ertale Ale (287m, on the West Shore of Lake Asale ) to Haile Gubbi (521 m, about 20km North of Lake Afrera ). Erta Ale is listed as the most active volcano in Africa for over 120 years and the most active until now is over 38 years. . Extracted from a number of salt pans scattered around the Afar Depression, the salt-bars still form a major item of trade for the Afar people, who transport them on camelback to Tigray along the ancient caravan routes with more than three thousand camels lined up. It is one of active volcanic areas in the world where a lake of malted rock can be seen in a dramatic colorful appearance. It is hard to give a good explanation of the natural phenomenon of the Erta’ale