The Eye of Africa: A 40-Kilometer Geological Wonder in the Sahara
Richat Structure
The Richat Structure, or Guelb er Richât, is a deeply eroded geological dome in Mauritania's Adrar Plateau, spanning 40 kilometers in diameter. Once mistaken for an impact crater, it was formed by a subsurface igneous intrusion that pushed sedimentary layers into concentric rings, with the oldest rock exposed at the center. It also holds exceptional Acheulean stone tools and was named one of the IUGS's 100 geological heritage sites in 2022.
The Richat Structure has been the subject of unsubstantiated fringe claims to be the site of Atlantis mentioned in the works of Plato.