Gaet'ale pond facts for kids

General view

Gaet'ale pond is a small hypersaline lake found near the Dallol crater in the Danakil Depression (Afar, Ethiopia). It is found over a hot spring. It has no inlet or outlet streams. The water of Gaet'ale Pond has a salinity of 43%, making it the saltiest body of water on Earth.

Location and origin

Gaet'ale pond is the largest of a series of small ponds found approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) southeast of Dallol springs. It is shaped like a crescent. It has a diameter of about 60 metres (200 ft).

Composition

The salts in the water of Gaet'ale Pond are mainly made up of calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and magnesium chloride (MgCl₂). It also contains small amounts of Na⁺, K⁺ and NO₂⁻ ions. It also contains traces of Fe³⁺ that form a complex with Cl⁻, making the water yellow.

Bubbles of odourless gas are released from the lake. It is likely volcanically produced CO₂. It has been proposed that the gas may be harmful for small animals or humans because dead birds and insect have been found around the pond.