DDrift

Chapter 03 of 5

The Richat Structure (The Eye of the Sahara)

Discover the 25-mile-wide geological mystery visible from outer space.

  1. The Discovery

    Eyes in Orbit

    While early explorers missed it on the ground, NASA Gemini 4 astronauts spotted this massive bullseye from space in 1965.

  2. Geographic Home

    The Mauritanian Giant

    Located in the Oudane region of Mauritania, the Richat Structure spans nearly 25 miles across the Sahara Desert.

  3. Identity Crisis

    Not an Impact

    Initial theories suggested a meteorite strike, but the lack of 'shocked' minerals proved this wasn't a crater.

17 more cards in this chapter

Could you answer this?

What is the primary geological reason the 'Eye of the Sahara' has its distinct circular rings?

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⏳ The Secret Sahara

  1. 01The Green Sahara CycleDiscover how Earth's orbital wobble transforms the Sahara into a lush paradise.
  2. 02Mega-Lake Chad and the Dust HighwayHow a prehistoric African lakebed feeds the entire Amazon rainforest from across the sea.
  3. 03The Richat Structure (The Eye of the Sahara)Discover the 25-mile-wide geological mystery visible from outer space.
  4. 04The Nubian Sandstone AquiferDiscover the world's largest fossil water system buried beneath the Libyan desert.
  5. 05Bir Tawil (The Land unclaimed by Earth)Discover Bir Tawil, the 800-square-mile desert claimed by no nation on Earth.