In the western Sahara Desert lies a natural wonder that has intrigued scientists and adventurers for centuries. Known as the Richat Structure — or, more commonly, the Eye of the Sahara — this massive geological formation resembles a giant eye.
Consisting of a series of rings on the Adrar Plateau, a prominent feature in northwestern Mauritania, the structure measures 31 miles (50 km) in diameter, making it highly visible even from high above Earth. In the local dialect of Arabic, the people refer to it as “Guelb er Richât,” meaning “the eye of the Richat.”
But what created the Eye of the Sahara, and what purpose does it serve today? Let’s delve deeper into these mysteries to shed light on the ancient structure.
At first glance, the Richat Structure resembles a giant bullseye, with its concentric rings and circular ridges. This distinctive circular shape sparked various early theories about its formation, with one theory even being that it was the site of the lost city of Atlantis.
Although some experts initially thought the Eye of the Sahara to be an enormous impact crater, subsequent studies proved the geologic curiosity had a more complex origin involving terrestrial processes.
Osm