Hot spring paradise filled with toxic acid

The hot springs in Ethiopia's Danakil Depression are a colorful paradise, but are toxic due to their highly acidic water.

According to IFL Science, the Danakil Depression, located between the Dallol volcano and Lake Assal in Ethiopia, is more than 100 meters below sea level. Chlorine and sulfur vapors float above the salt lakes in the area. Volcanic magma constantly heats rainwater and salt water to temperatures of 90 degrees Celsius, creating a highly acidic mixture that includes salts of sulfur, copper, and iron.

The salt compounds accumulate and condense, turning the ground yellow, red, green. Although the beauty of the Danakil Depression is likened to paradise, this is one of the places that is not welcome to visit due to the very toxic environment.

A research team from the Astrobiology Center in Madrid, Spain, launched an expedition in early April, expected to last three months, to survey the geology and life forms in the Danakil Depression, where strong geothermal activity takes place.

"There are very few scientific publications about the Danakil Depression, and no descriptions of the creatures there. We want to explore new lands from a scientific perspective," said Felipe Gómez Gómez, the leader of the expedition.

The team was interested in what life forms could survive in the area's harsh and toxic environment. In addition to measuring environmental parameters such as pH, temperature, humidity, and oxygen levels in the water, they also collected bacterial samples.extremeextremophilic

By studying extremophile DNA, scientists hope to find ways to help humans survive in harsh environmental conditions, as well as learn how life arose on other planets.

“It’s a wonderful but toxic place, with temperatures of around 42 degrees Celsius during the day and 30 degrees Celsius at night. Chlorine vapors burn the human respiratory tract. All the creatures that live here are extremophiles, a type of bacteria that can adapt to harsh environmental conditions,” Gómez shared.

According to VNE