Geography

Socotra Island, located in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Yemen, is often described as the most alien-looking place on Earth. Home to over 700 species found nowhere else, including the famous dragon blood tree and desert rose, Socotra’s biodiversity has evolved in isolation for millions of years. This remarkable island offers a rare…

Nestled in northeastern Ethiopia, the Danakil Depression is one of the most inhospitable and geologically active places on Earth. Sitting at about 125 meters below sea level, this desert basin experiences average temperatures exceeding 34°C, making it one of the hottest inhabited regions globally. The area is characterized by its alien-like landscapes, including salt flats,…

In the heart of the Sundarbans delta, where the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers meet the Bay of Bengal, once lay Lohachara Island—a small, inhabited landmass that vanished beneath rising seas in the late 20th century. This disappearance marked one of the first documented instances of human settlement lost to climate change-induced sea-level rise. Lohachara’s submergence…

Nestled within Tanzania’s East African Rift Valley, Lake Natron is a geological marvel. This shallow, hypersaline lake spans approximately 56 kilometers in length and 22 kilometers in width, with depths rarely exceeding three meters. Fed primarily by the Southern Ewaso Ng’iro River and mineral-rich hot springs, its waters are highly alkaline, with pH levels often…

Karst landscapes, formed primarily from the dissolution of soluble rocks like limestone, dolomite, and gypsum, play a vital but often overlooked role in global freshwater systems. These unique terrains are characterized by features such as sinkholes, caves, and underground rivers. Found in regions like Slovenia’s Škocjan Caves and China’s Guilin, karst areas serve as direct…