Ouadâne, Mauritania
In the midst of the vast, vacant Sahara desert, just outside of
Ouadane, Mauritania, lies a 30-mile wide geological oddity known the
Richat Structure, or the "Eye of Africa." From space, this natural
curiosity forms a distinct and unmistakable bull's-eye that once served
as a geographical landmark for early astronauts as they passed over the
Sahara.
Once thought to be a crater due to its circularity, the unusual
formation is now widely believed to have been caused by the erosion of
what was once a volcanic dome. Over time, desert weather has caused the
volcano to gradually shed layers, resulting in the structure's
remarkable flatness.
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| A geological bull's-eye visible from outer space |
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| A geological bull's-eye visible from outer space |
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| A geological bull's-eye visible from outer space |
