A 2017 satellite image of the Sahara’s Tanezrouft Basin reveals the abstract beauty of ancient rock folds and colorful salt flats, sculpted over millions of years in this harsh region.
The Tanezrouft Basin, situated in southern Algeria and northern Mali, is one of the most hostile environments on Earth. It receives less than 0.2 inches (5 millimeters) of rain annually, classifying it as “hyperarid.” Summer temperatures can soar above 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius), according to NASA’s Earth Observatory.
This area is nearly devoid of life, except for some Tuareg nomads who occasionally traverse the treacherous terrain on a caravan route that dates back over 1,500 years. The lack of visible landmarks makes navigation perilous, often leading even seasoned travelers astray. Consequently, the basin is colloquially known as the “Land of Terror.”
Thousands of years of sandstorms have eroded sediment and sand from parts of the basin, uncovering ancient concentric folds in the sandstone bedrock dating back to the Paleozoic era (541 million to 252 million years ago). Green salt flats, located in steep canyons, dot the landscape around these folded rocks. Viewed from space, these exposed geologic features create a stunning work of abstract art, as noted by NASA representatives.
Despite its current hostility, the dramatic landscape of the Tanezrouft Basin suggests it hasn’t always been inhospitable. Some of the salt flats are located in canyons up to 1,600 feet (490 meters) deep, indicating they were carved by flowing water, possibly from intermittent flooding over millions of years. This implies the region could have once supported a more diverse ecosystem.
Today, the salt flats and canyons intertwine with the exposed sandstone folds, creating the striking shapes seen in the satellite image. These patterns resemble landscapes found in the folded strata of Wyoming’s Red Desert and the Appalachian Mountains in the Eastern United States, according to P. Kyle House, a researcher with the U.S. Geological Survey.
