Destinations / The most unreal landscapes on earth / "Eye of the Sahara" in Mauritania

  

   This spectacular view is found in Mauritania in the south-western Sahara and it is called the Richat structure. It is not just a structure, but rather a huge circular formation (50 km in diameter), which account an eye when seen from space. 

   If initially thought that the massive crater was created by a meteorite impact, scientists have been puzzled by foma pay "bottom" crater, unexplained. Ultimately, concluded that the formation is, rather, the product initially erosion volcanic dome. Erosion caused by wind and water "bark" slowly, over centuries, rock layers, creating the current form, the "eye". 

   Located in the middle Maur Adrar Desert in Western Sahara, the structure of Rich (er Guelb Rich) was first used by crews of space missions as a reference point. Recently, passionate adventurers exploring with 4 x 4 vehicles find their place as a playground structure. Most images on the spot have a yellow tint, indicating the sand dunes around Guelb site. Dark side are sedimentary rocks in the middle structure is Rich, round, giant. 

   Foam top portion is at 200 meters above the surrounding sand dunes and the edge structure in some places reaches to 485 meters above sea level. Rich structure consists of rocks of early Paleozoic (older than 600 million years). Around the center stone is resistant to erosion (the green and blue), followed by rings of soft rock (the yellow and brown) that form the valleys. 

   All are arranged concentrically alternative. Scientists are still puzzled by the fact that the faction is round - erosion theory does not explain this feature.

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