The Sahara Desert is known for its heat and harsh environment, but it is also home to a remarkable geological feature.
The Sahara Desert is known for its heat and harsh environment, but it is also home to a remarkable geological feature, reports New Scientist.
The Richat Structure, also known as the Eye of the Sahara, is a nearly 30-mile-wide formation that NASA says “forms a conspicuous bull's-eye in the otherwise rather featureless expanse of the desert.”
Located just southeast of the highest summit in Mauritania, the rocky terrain rises more than 600 feet over the surrounding desert.
According to New Scientist, "the concentric rings are made up of alternating types of rock of different ages, with the most erosion-resistant rocks forming the ridges."
In the past, while some scientists had hypothesized that the circular Eye of the Sahara was created by a meteor strike, many now believe it is the result of erosion.
Described as "an outsized fossil in the desert," NASA notes "the structure...has become a landmark for shuttle crews."
