File:The_Danakil_Desert.png · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Danakil Desert
Sign in to savedesert in northeast Ethiopia
Key facts
- Area
- 136,956 km (52,879 mi )
- Country
- Ethiopia , Eritrea , Djibouti
- Coordinates
- 14°14′30″N 40°18′00″E / 14.2417°N 40.3°E / 14.2417; 40.3
via Wikipedia infobox
~5 min read
Encyclopedic overview
The Danakil Desert (or Afar Desert) is a desert in northeast Ethiopia, southern Eritrea, and northwestern Djibouti. Situated in the Afar Triangle, it stretches across 136,956 square kilometres (52,879 mi) of arid terrain. It is inhabited by a few Afar, who engage in salt mining. The area is known for its volcanoes and extreme heat, with daytime temperatures surpassing 50 °C (122 °F). Less than 25 mm (1 in) of rainfall occurs each year. The Danakil Desert is one of the lowest and hottest places on Earth.
Climate
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Danakil Desert” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.