Lake Afrera- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Lake Afrera, also known as Lake Giulietti, is a hypersaline lake located in Ethiopia's Danakil Depression within the Afar Region. Covering approximately 117 km², it lies more than 100 meters below sea level and is fed by hot springs rather than river inflows. The lake's brine-filled basins reach depths of up to 80 m, and it stands out geochemically from other Ethiopian saline lakes due to its acidic pH. Franchetti Island, situated in its southern basin, is believed to be the lowest-lying island on Earth. The lake is home to several fish species, including two endemic ones: Danakilia franchettii and Aphaniops stiassnyae, which have adapted to its extreme environment. For centuries, Lake Afrera has been a center of traditional salt extraction, with local communities harvesting salt directly from its shores. The lake's unstable crust and occasional brine surges have long posed serious risks to miners, with historical accounts warning of sudden collapses and deluges. In recent decades, large-scale commercial salt production was attempted, but the 2011 eruption of the nearby Nabro volcano introduced sulfuric acid into the lake, rendering the salt inedible. Geologically, Lake Afrera occupies a tectonically active zone connecting several volcanic ranges and features structures such as caldera-like depressions and extensive fault lines. Its fluctuating water levels are believed to be influenced more by climate patterns over the Ethiopian highlands than by local rainfall.