What's in the photo? Exposed paleozoic rock folds and colorful salt pans.This 2017 satellite photo shows the abstract beauty of one of the world's most terrifyingly hostile environments.
The basin is almost completely devoid of life apart from some Tuareg nomads who occasionally make the treacherous journey through the region on a caravan route that dates back more than 1,500 years. But this can be a deadly trip due to the region's lack of visible landmarks, which can cause even the most experienced travelers to get lost. As a result, the basin is colloquially known as the"Land of Terror.
When viewed from space,"the exposed geologic features create an arresting work of abstract art," NASA representatives wrote.The dramatic landscape also reveals that Tanezrouft Basin hasn't always been so hostile to life. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Some of the salt flats in this real-color image lay in canyons up to 1,600 feet deep. The scale of these steep gullies and the shape of their smoothed sides are signs that they were carved out by flowing water, potentially from intermittent flooding over millions of years, P. Kyle House, a researcher with the U.S. Geological Survey, told NASA's Earth Observatory.