Photos from Afar

National Geographic is currently featuring an article about the Afar Region in Ethiopia. The article is accompanied by absolutely stunning photos by George Steinmetz, such as this one:



I desperately wanted to visit Afar when we were in Ethiopia, but it is truly a dangerous place to go. National Geographic reports:

It was like a scene conjured by a Hollywood special effects shop. In September 2005 Afar herders in northern Ethiopia watched in amazement as the Earth yawned open and swallowed their goats and camels. Chunks of obsidian burst from subterranean caverns and flew through the air, said one local, "like huge black birds."

We did, at least, get to fly over the area on our way to Addis Ababa. It was a desolate, smoky, dry salt flat, which contrasted starkly with the blue of the sea we had just flown over. Maybe, when the kids are much, much older, we'll take the risk.