The Eye of the Sahara, also known as the Richat structure, is a geological marvel located in the Adrar Plateau of Mauritania. Its distinctive circular shape and concentric rings have made it a prominent landmark, visible from space and known to astronauts since the early crewed missions in the 1950s. Estimates of its dimensions range from 40 to 50 kilometers in diameter, forming a near-perfect circle in the desert landscape.
Initially, scientists hypothesized that the Eye of the Sahara was an impact structure resulting from a meteor strike. However, subsequent studies revealed a different origin. The dome-shaped structure was formed through tectonic uplift that occurred during the Cretaceous period, roughly 145 to 66 million years ago. Over time, erosion gradually exposed the structure, revealing its unique geological features.
The Eye of the Sahara stands as a solitary geological formation amidst the vast Erg Oudane, a sea of sand stretching eastward towards Mali. The eye towers approximately 660 feet above the surrounding sands, which can sometimes obscure parts of the structure in photographs. The center of the eye consists of a round plateau composed of limestone and breccias, while the rest of the eye slopes down in a circular pattern of ridges and grooves. These features were shaped by the relentless forces of wind and water over countless millennia.
The ridges that define the Eye of the Sahara are primarily made of resistant quartzite, while the grooves consist of less resistant sedimentary rocks that have eroded more rapidly. The reason for the eye’s distinctive round shape remains a subject of scientific inquiry. Erosion has revealed four types of igneous rocks within the structure, indicating that molten rock once rose and solidified at the surface. Additionally, faults are visible on the outer rings of the eye, suggesting tectonic activity in the past.
Beyond its geological significance, the Eye of the Sahara holds archaeological importance. Excavations have uncovered tools dating back approximately 2 million years, belonging to ancient human ancestors such as Homo erectus and Homo sapiens. These discoveries shed light on the region’s prehistoric human activity.
While some proponents of the Atlantis myth have drawn parallels between the Eye of the Sahara and the lost continent, scientific consensus debunks such claims. Modern archaeology and geology provide compelling evidence against the existence of a great civilization called Atlantis, leaving the Eye of the Sahara as a testament to the power and beauty of geological processes.
