Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Judi Lynn

(160,217 posts)
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 10:47 AM Aug 2017

In Earths hottest place, life has been found in pure acid

For the first time, scientists have found living microbes in the blistering hot springs of Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression.

By Jasmin Fox-Skelly
4 August 2017



In a surreal landscape of colours, dominated by luminescent ponds of yellows and greens, boiling hot water bubbles up like a cauldron, whilst poisonous chlorine and sulphur gases choke the air.

Known as the “gateway to hell”, the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is scorchingly hot and one of the most alien places on Earth. Yet a recent expedition to the region has found it is teeming with life.

In the heart of the Horn of Africa, the Danakil Depression is one of the most remote, inhospitable and least-studied locations in the world. It lies over 330ft (100m) below sea level in a volcanic area in north-west Ethiopia, close to the border with Eritrea, aptly named “Afar”. It is part of the East African Rift System, a place where the Earth’s internal forces are currently tearing apart three continental plates, creating new land.

The violent landscape is arguably the hottest place on the planet, and one of the driest. The temperature regularly reaches 45C (113F). It rarely rains, but seas of molten magma ooze just beneath the crust’s surface. There are two highly active volcanoes: one of them, Erta Ale, is one of only a handful of volcanoes to have an active, bubbling lava lake at its summit. The area is also littered with acid ponds and geysers, and features a deep crater called Dallol.

More:
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170803-in-earths-hottest-place-life-has-been-found-in-pure-acid
















More images:

https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=AwrTcXPhfYhZGLoAw1yLuLkF;_ylc=X1MDOTYwNTc0ODMEX3IDMgRiY2sDZWFlcjdmOWNnbDI5ZyUyNmIlM0Q0JTI2ZCUzRGZFVE9PSzFyWUgzS3VfNWJGaWk4THF3a19jX3JYc19ya1E2azM1dGQ0N2NwM1EtLSUyNnMlM0RkayUyNmklM0Q2TGVIbEFaQjRDbm9uWGZEalRnZgRmcgMEZ3ByaWQDNzRKVjJab2ZTemFpNXJ1NzdPSGloQQRtdGVzdGlkA251bGwEbl9zdWdnAzEwBG9yaWdpbgNpbWFnZXMuc2VhcmNoLnlhaG9vLmNvbQRwb3MDMARwcXN0cgMEcHFzdHJsAwRxc3RybAMyMARxdWVyeQMgRGFuYWtpbCBEZXByZXNzaW9uIAR0X3N0bXADMTUwMjExNzM0NwR2dGVzdGlkA251bGw-?gprid=74JV2ZofSzai5ru77OHihA&pvid=oLAriDIwNi7lO2d6WQqJMAH9MjYwMgAAAADyw47T&fr2=sb-top-images.search.yahoo.com&p=+Danakil+Depression+&ei=UTF-8&iscqry=&fr=sfp#id=261&iurl=https%3A%2F%2Fs-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com%2F736x%2F22%2F60%2F5a%2F22605a0f78ef12f1883cc7b77bbf5cab.jpg&action=close

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
In Earths hottest place, life has been found in pure acid (Original Post) Judi Lynn Aug 2017 OP
I wonder if that will be the next nursery of Ilsa Aug 2017 #1
My first thought too. nt Duppers Aug 2017 #2
That eerie landscape doesn't even look like it is on this planet. nt procon Aug 2017 #3
The closest to that in the US is the Great Salt Lakes Xipe Totec Aug 2017 #4
It must have been an alien. nt procon Aug 2017 #5
I'm not saying ... area51 Aug 2017 #17
Reminiscent of Yellowstone NP gilpo Aug 2017 #6
Yes. Lucky Luciano Aug 2017 #7
It's quite beautiful really. I'll pass on the heat and toxic gases, though. argyl Aug 2017 #8
I agree, it's fascinating! burrowowl Aug 2017 #11
What spectacular pictures!. . . . . n/t annabanana Aug 2017 #9
Thanks. I wasn't aware of this place. n/t NNadir Aug 2017 #10
Trump Towers? I hear it's getting hotter and more acidic by the minute. Liberty Belle Aug 2017 #12
Might I propose Plucketeer Aug 2017 #13
I lived on acid for three months in 1969 spike jones Aug 2017 #14
I found life in pure acid orangecrush Aug 2017 #15
Really amazing! burrowowl Aug 2017 #16

Ilsa

(61,675 posts)
1. I wonder if that will be the next nursery of
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 10:58 AM
Aug 2017

Life on planet Earth after we manage to kill everything through global climate change.

Xipe Totec

(43,872 posts)
4. The closest to that in the US is the Great Salt Lakes
Mon Aug 7, 2017, 02:38 PM
Aug 2017

Is it any wonder a certain sect was drawn to it? To be nearer their creator?

argyl

(3,064 posts)
8. It's quite beautiful really. I'll pass on the heat and toxic gases, though.
Tue Aug 8, 2017, 09:44 PM
Aug 2017

Much appreciation for your many posts on beautiful, unusual places. And others as well.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Science»In Earths hottest place, ...