This is the Dalor volcano, located in the Danakil Desert, Afar Region, Ethiopia.
The explosion created a crater-like terrain. The Dalol volcano is a spectacular landscape of green ponds and extremely colored landscapes of sulfur, salt, and other mined materials that are unlike anything on earth.
The Danakil Desert is approximately 125 meters below sea level, making it one of the hottest and most inhospitable places on earth. The temperature averages 34.5°C, and has even reached over 50°C at times.
In these extreme environmental conditions, microorganisms called extremophiles inhabit the environment. This is why scientists are conducting research in the Danakil Desert to find the limits where organisms can live.
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(Photo: Achilli Family/Flickr [CC BY 2.0])