Like a scene from Dante’s ‘Inferno’, this low-lying geological phenomenon in the Horn of Africa experiences hellish conditions. Temperatures reach 55 °C, rainfall is scant and its floor is seismically unstable, with pools of sulphur-laden water that evaporates and cools to reveal salts of every hue and shape. In addition, the earth’s crust is so thin here that lava constantly bubbles through the surface, and volcanic cones and deep cracks are common sights. The only people tough
enough to brave this inhospitable region are a group of nomads called the Afar.

What is the name of the geological depression?

Answer this question correctly and you could win a pair of Lynx Series-22 10x28 mm binoculars worth R2  052! Small and light, these roof-prism binoculars are ideal for hikers and birdwatchers, and boast ‘long eye relief’, a feature that enables spectacle wearers to see the full field of view without experien-cing a tunnel-vision effect. A waterproof black rubber covering ensures durability, BK-7 prism glass provides crisp and clear viewing, and multicoated optics offer excellent image clarity.

The winner of COMPETITION NO.96 is D. H. Taylor of Riversdale, South Africa, who correctly identified Sterkfontein Dam in South Africa.