The Danakil Depression
In The Danakil Depression, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the alien landscape of one of the lowest, hottest places on Earth. Pools of sulfuric acid and churning lava hint at the birth of new mountains. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Lesson Express
Q: What makes the appearance of the Danakil Depression so unusual?
A: It is so low and hot that there seems to be no life; pools of sulfuric acid give it an eerie green glow; active volcanoes spew smoke and lava.
Q: What Earth systems caused the conditions at the Danakil Depression?
A: A huge crack in the Earth’s crust formed where giant land masses pulled away from one another; lava rose to the surface through the crack to form a chain of volcanoes.
Q: What do you predict is next in the lifespan of the Danakil Depression?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may suggest that the volcanoes will form mountains or highlands, which will then be eroded by rain and ice to form spires and canyons.