The Devil's Cauldron

We recently posted on some sedimentary rocks deposited in the world's youngest forming sea in the Afar triangle (see http://on.fb.me/1791Pmn), mentioning that the continental rifting involved also resulted in a variety of volcanic events. These range from the volcanic plateaus of Ethiopia, through the chains of Africa's Great Rift to the coastal smaller scale basaltic volcanic fields on both coasts of the Red Sea, both clearly visible as zones of dark rock in satellite photos.

Somewhat south of the Danakil Depression, right on the tip of the Horn of Africa curling into the sea towards Yemen is the tiny Republic of Djibouti, one of whose volcanic treasures is the bay of Ghoubbet Al-Karab. There are many fissures here that have leaked lava as the continent is slowly pulled apart like a pizza surrounded by starving teenagers, resulting in extensive volcanic fields, many of whose features formed in a single eruption. Between eruptions, coral reefs grow in the lava.

The bay is 20km long by 20 wide, on the borders of Lake Assal, itself a volcanic crater. Djibouti also sits on the triple junction between the Indian, African, and Eurasian tectonic plates. As the new oceanic spreading centre creates new marine crust between them, they are being pushed apart as the Red Sea grows. The process in ongoing, with new faults opening up and spewing lava every now and again.

The bay is surrounded by 600 metre cliffs and supposedly the haunt of fiery devils, who drag down unwary sailors to Davy Jones's Locker. The waters are deep, some 200 metres, and sealed off from the main body of the sea by powerful currents. The sea level can show up to a metre in difference between the bay and the surrounding gulf. Within the bay are a couple of old volcanic cones, known as the Devil's Islands. Whales and sharks abound in these waters, along with dolphins, barracuda and other predatory fish.

Loz

Image credit: Bernhard Edmaier