Richat Structure
A geological bull's-eye visible from outer space
Category Natural Wonders, Geological Oddities
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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- Address Ouadane, Mauritania
Comments
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Anonymous
August 22, 2009
If you check this out in google maps, you'll find that the formation contained within a larger almond shaped area, giving it an even more eye-like appearance than the photo above would indicate
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