Dallol Hydrothermal Field — Acid Springs and Salt Cones Below Sea Level

Dallol is a low, collapsed salt dome in the northern Danakil Depression. The surface looks like another planet: yellow sulphur crusts, green acid pools, white salt chimneys and rust-red iron stains, all steaming and hissing. It sits around 130 m below sea level, and average temperatures are among the highest recorded anywhere. The ground is thin salt crust over hot brine, and the pools are strongly acidic. Stay on the boardwalk-style marked paths and the paths your guide uses, wear closed boots, and carry far more water than you think you need. Gas can build up in still air, so don’t linger in low pockets.

This is not a go-it-alone stop. Travel in the Afar Region generally requires a local permit, a guide and an armed escort arranged through a Mekele-based operator. Security conditions and regional access have changed repeatedly, so check current government travel advisories and confirm with your operator before committing. Go between roughly October and March, and visit at sunrise before the heat becomes unbearable. Most overlanders base at nearby Hamed Ela. Verify all access details ahead of time.

Have a dirty day.

Acid springs and salt cones below sea level