The most amazing life in the

Danakil depression in Ethiopia has one of the harshest climates on Earth. But even here, life still has a way of survival.

The harshest place in the world

The sun burned the cracked earth, hot dry air absorbed moisture from the skin. The Danakil depression in Ethiopia is one of the hottest, driest and sunken places on the planet, according to the BBC.

This depression is located in the Afar region, northeastern Ethiopia. The climate here can only be described as 'cruel'. But despite the harsh conditions, people still live here. Afar people call the depression their homeland.

Danakil depression is one of the hottest places on Earth. The average annual temperature here is 34.4 degrees C.

The area around the Dallol volcano in the Danakil depression is one of the hottest places. The highest day temperature in this area is an average of 41 degrees Celsius, according to Geology.

A lava lake in the Danakil depression.

Worse, the Danakil depression only receives 100 to 200 mm of rain each year. This is also one of the most sunken places on the planet, 125 meters below sea level.

Combined, these elements make Danakil's depression become one of the harshest environments in the world.

Danakil depression is called the 'Hell Gate' because of the terrible heat and sulfur smell, acid rises heavily.

As if the climate was still not enough, the geology of this area made it look like an alien land.

Walking around the area, you will feel like you are on another planet. Danakil depression has many volcanoes with bubbling lava lake, hydrothermal zone (where there are many hot springs and steam spray mouths) and salt lake dazzling.

Hydrothermal zone, where there are many hot springs and steam vents.

According to Wikivoyage, the Danakil depression also has dangerous areas. There are currently no fence or warning signs, but visitors are advised to stay away from the colorful lakes and are as beautiful as Lake Dallol because it is acidic.

Amazing life

In 1974, scientist Donald Johanson and his colleagues found the famous fossil of human ancestors called Lucy in the Danakil depression. The challenge belongs to the gibbon, the first human ape, living in this area more than 3 million years ago.

Many other fossils of human ancestors were discovered here, making some paleontologists think that this area is where humans evolved for the first time. As a result, the Danakil depression is often called the "cradle of humanity".

This area is also used to investigate how alien life can grow.

Color scene in Danakil depression.

Hot springs in the Danakil depression are inhabited by microorganisms called extremophiles, capable of living in harsh conditions.

These microorganisms are of particular interest to cosmologists because they can help explain life beyond Earth.

You might think no one can live here, but the Afar have made it their home. While BBC reporters sweating under the sun and thirsty, Afar people still look great and comfortable.

This is evolution by work. Their bodies adapt to temperature and dryness. Therefore, they need less food and water than most people.

A salt field in the Danakil depression.

Afar people make salt mainly. For them, salt is like money.

They chop off the salt at the giant salt lake and take them to the market in the town of Mekele by camels and donkeys. Transportation takes about a week to walk but people only need a small loaf of bread and a bottle of water.

Afar people are also very kind. When the BBC reporter was tired of the heat, a salt maker gave the reporter little bread and water.

Reporters felt deeply moved to know that this is the last food and drink of salt makers. He received bread and then gave him salt to make some water.

Camel transport salt to market.

Afar people, with a population of about 3 million people, live their basic lives, according to Wikivoyage. They are nomads, living in wooden tents that can move and take care of small livestock including goats, donkeys and camels.

The only river in the region, Awash, also helped provide life for Afar people and their herds.

Awash is one of the most unique rivers in the world because it does not flow into the sea. It flows from the Ethiopian highlands to the lakes in the Danakil depression. But the intense heat caused all the water to flow into the lake to evaporate, leaving a large salt lake.

Although the Danakil depression is a dry place, the river still brings life with precious water and salt.

Awash River helps provide life for Afar people and cattle.

Danakil depression is the northern part of the Afar Triangle, a geologic depression caused by Afar Triple Junction - the intersection of three tectonic plates.

Danakil spreads across the borders of Eritrea, Djibouti and the entire Afar Region of Ethiopia. It is part of the great East African Rift Valley.

The rift valley is where Earth's tectonic plates move out of the valley. In the East African Rift Valley, tectonic plates move at a rate of 1-2cm per year.

This is why Danakil depression has lava pools, cracks in the ground, hot springs and steam vents. All are manifestations when tectonic plates move.

Millions of years later, these tectonic plates will move so far as the Red Sea water rushes in, creating a new ocean and submerging the Danakil depression forever, according to scientists.