About 600 million years, among the endless sands of the Sahara desert, a mysterious natural object lurks. Just 40 km from its center is the Moorish settlement of Wadan. But the locals for centuries had no idea that they live next to a unique creation of nature.
It was possible to make out only in 1965. On the African mainland, the astronauts saw a huge eye looking at them. It was clear that the formation was inanimate, but its size was amazing. Scientists, having received the pictures, were also surprised. The structure consisted of several concentric circles of regular shape, resembling the pupil and the eyelids framing it. The size of the huge eye was 50 km. The education was called "Desert Eye" or "Guell Er-Rishat" in the local language. Since then, many assumptions have been put forward about its occurrence.
Mysterious Atlantis in Africa
Let's start with the most fantastic versions. Researchers who stubbornly search for Atlantis on Earth are convinced: The eye of the Sahara desert was it ten thousand years ago. They are not even confused by the information about the flooding of a vanished civilization. After all, North Africa has changed its face more than once. Serious tectonic processes took place here. It is possible that it was once submerged due to a powerful earthquake or meteorite fall. And then it rose again above sea level.
Very much resemble the giant circles in the desert, the island of Atlantis, described by Plato in his writings. A small center, and around man-made rings, some of which are land rings, and others are filled with water. Atlantologists even made a kind of historical reconstruction of the Desert Eyes. The photo shows how it could look in ancient times, when the island was inhabited by highly developed Atlanteans.
Intrigues of Aliens
It is almost impossible to confirm the theory with Atlantis. As well as the theory that a mysterious object in the desert was built by aliens. According to the ufologists, he could serve the aliens as a kind of reference point in the same way as for a long time he had been a reference point for Earth astronauts. However, it has not been possible to fix any abnormal deviations in the study of strange education.
Opinions of scientists
Scientists also put forward various versions of the origin of the Desert Eyes. According to one of them, the fallen meteorite is to blame for everything. In the Sahara desert, many black stones of extraterrestrial origin were discovered. However, when it hits the surface, the meteorite leaves a deep depression, which is not observed in the Guell Er-Rishat structure. In addition, for the formation of rings would require several celestial bodies falling in the same place. It is difficult to imagine even theoretically.
Another assumption is associated with the eruption of a giant volcano, the vent of which was in the center of the formation. Circles are petrified lava that solidifies as it is removed. But subsequently, the version was discarded, as the object consists of dolomite rocks. Volcanoes on the spot were not found.
Now the main version is considered to be the natural origin of the structure under the influence of erosion and tectonic processes. The platform has been rising and falling for many centuries, it was actively blown by the winds, water washed out the limestone. As a result, layers of solid quartzite remained. The version is believable, but does not explain the unusual form of the Rishat structure in any way.
Play of color
Valentin Lebedev, examining the structure from the porthole of a spaceship, compared it with a children's pyramid. Moreover, the rings of this toy are multi-colored. As can be seen in different photos, the Eye of the Sahara desert can really change its shades depending on the time of day and season.
In the pictures you can see yellow sands, green vegetation, blue sedimentary rock and brown root. Under the influence of heat, embossed walls begin to play in different colors, giving rise to amazing combinations. You can admire this beauty only from the air. From the surface of the planet, Guell Er-Rishat looks like an unremarkable hilly area along which shepherds peacefully roam camels.
Desert Eye Tours
Many travelers are attracted by everything mysterious and unusual. Therefore, the flow of tourists to this natural site only increases over the years, especially in December, when the heat decreases slightly. The journey begins from the capital of Mauritania, which is called Nukshot. A taxi or minibus takes everyone to the city of Atara, where you can order various tours. From here to the Rishat structure 200 km. Tourists love to ride them in helicopters or in a balloon. From above you can see an unusual structure in all its splendor.
If you get to the city of Wadan, you can feel the spirit of the desert even stronger. Here are the ruins of an ancient UNESCO-protected settlement. By hiring car guides, tourists will be able to see the desert with its inhabitants and sparse vegetation live, to experience the mysterious circles of Guell Er Rishat with their own hands. Arrange jeep races. Spend the night in a tent or guesthouse right in the center of the "eye".
Mankind has been living on the planet for hundreds of thousands of years, but could not solve all its secrets. We discovered islands and continents, sank deep into the oceans, conquered the highest mountains and the deepest caves. But the Eye of the Desert, looking into space, has remained a mystery that excites the mind of scientists and adventurers.