The Eye of the Sahara: The Richat Structure
Astronauts love gazing at the Eye of the Sahara from space, where it resembles a 40 km-wide flying saucer landing site. In reality, it’s just the remains of a dome that’s taken 100 million years to erode.
Photo by depositphotos.com
This circular feature in the Sahara Desert of Mauritania, with a diameter of almost 30 miles, has caught attention since early space missions due to its circular shape in an otherwise featureless desert. Initially thought to be a meteorite impact, it’s now considered a symmetrical uplift revealed by erosion, with Paleozoic quartzites forming the resistant beds. The Richat Structure looks great from above, but not so much from below.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Richat Structure, Adrar Region, Mauritania
- Coordinates
- 21.11076, -11.39471
- Access
- Remote desert area north of Ouadane. The municipality places Ouadane about 30 km from the structure's centre and says the route shown on its map is indicative; plan local transport with a guide and check current conditions. The full circular formation is visible only from the air or space.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-26
- Facts checked
- 2026-09-26
Map marks the area, not a visitor entrance.
Location
Use the zoom buttons or pinch to zoom. Use arrow keys to pan when the map is focused.
Interactive map loads when in view.
Explorer Passport
Next badge: Trail Scout
Unlocked after exploring 5 different unusual places.
0 of 5 places explored
Discover more from Unusual Places
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
maybe it’s the Earth’s bellybutton?