Ethiopia is a continent within a continent, where all kinds of legends have been told since the Prester John created a kingdom where the fountain of youth was supposedly located, until all those who ruled were descended from the Queen of Sheba. There are places where time seems to have stopped Prehistory and others in which we find castles that seem to be taken from the European nobility. They even say there's a place where the Ark of the Covenant.
The lava of the Erta Ale volcano It is a mesmerising spectacle of raw, fascinating power. The magma that flows from the heart of the earth in flames, erupts and engulfs the rocks: a turbulent sea of stone liquid and black.
To enjoy this volcano in Ethiopia, you need an adventurous spirit, as any journey through remote areas inevitably involves a certain degree of hardship. In the case of this route to Danakil, there is also the challenging terrain and climate to contend with. High temperatures, water scarcity and difficult terrain combine to demand a certain spirit of self-sacrifice and adaptability to the circumstances. The effort in this case has its reward.
Come and meet this one fascinating Horn of Africa country full of singularities and whose history is lost in time. This is where the “Grandmother of Humanity”, Lucy, whose skeleton is well guarded in the capital Addis Ababa, lived millions of years ago.
Near Erta Ale volcano (‘smoking mountain’ in the Afar language) lies Lake Afrera. Its waters do not quench thirst, as it is a salt lake, but its minerals are a source of wealth. Water is channelled to its shores, where it evaporates, leaving fine white salt of the highest quality in the Danakil. Millions of years ago, the entire Danakil Depression was a vast sea. As it evaporated, it left enormous salt deposits, which are a source of wealth today.
It is worth visiting the salt workings to see the grid lines marking each property. After the salt flats, our next destination is Erta Ale volcano.
We've already talked about the trips to Ethiopia in this space before, but we love the country so much that we cannot resist returning to it. This time, we suggest a visual introduction to this beautiful corner of Africa. For this, we have looked beyond our photographic archives but on social media. We want to see the snapshots travellers bring home from the country and share with their friends and followers online. We have searched the instant photo-sharing network Instagram and show you the results below.