We drove from Semera to Lake Afdera for about 4 hours on an asphalt road, taking us from the city into the increasingly arid, otherworldly Danakil Depression. The scenery transformed from a more populated area to a vast, volcanic, and desert landscape of solidified lava, rock, and sand, with occasional palm-lined oases and small hamlets along the way. It was just a short stop to see salt foam; it’s possible to soak in, but the area around is not nice due to salt extraction, so we skipped that option.
Lake Afdera is a hypersaline lake in the Afar Depression of northern Ethiopia, known for its extreme environment, high salinity, and proximity to volcanic activity. Situated below sea level, it has a surface area of about 70-140 kmยฒ and is fed by underground streams and hot springs. Maximum depth is around 80 meters, though one unconfirmed report suggests 160 meters. The lake is also home to endemic fish species, but potential salt-extraction activities threaten them.
