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The Richat Structure - Eye of Africa

Location: Adrar, Mauritania
Latitude & Longitude: 21.110229, -11.414795
Views: 1275   Posted By: shafty (10/02/2009)
Default View: Google Maps
Editted: 0 time(s) 		Categories:
- Weird, Unusual, & Odd
- Nature & Landscape --> Rocks & Dunes
- Nature & Landscape --> Deserts
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shafty (10/02/2009)

A well known geological feature, to astronaughts at least is the Richat Structure. The view from space is much more impressive than on ground level. It was first seen from space by Gemini 4 astronauts McDivitt and White in June 1965.

Situated in the center of Mauritania, the western end of the Sahara desert this amazing circular feature has caught the attention from all space missions because it stands out in the featureless expanse of the desert. This 'eye of Africa' , which has a diameter of almost 50 kilometers (30 miles) has a pupil which is formed by a plateau raised 200m above the surrounding desert.

Darren P (10/02/2009)

So what caused this depression, was it a meteor impact?
I looked for info on this and it cannot be easily seen when your on the ground so is one of those things that was built for satellites and google earth. 

Barb (10/02/2009)

Its quite funny that this is a landmark for astronaughts.

Found the Wiki page for this - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richat_Structure

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