Scientifically speaking, the Richat Structure, with a diameter of over 40 km, has been unknown to humanity despite its existence for millions of years. This unique geological formation was discovered in June 1965 by two American astronauts, Jim McDivitt and Ed White, while they were working aboard the Gemini 4 spacecraft.
Immediately, the huge concentric circles in the vast desert along with the blue hues of the rocks garnered significant global attention. This structure is referred to as the Eye of the Sahara or Green Eye of Africa due to its striking resemblance to a human eye when viewed from space.
Initially, scientists believed it to be a volcanic crater formed by a meteorite impact, but this hypothesis was dismissed when no signs of molten rock were found.
The Richat Structure resembles a human eye. (Image: Breathforlifetoday).
Many scientists have conducted extensive research on this structure, proposing various hypotheses. Some suggest it was formed by a meteorite, while others posit it was caused by volcanic deposits. There are even theories suggesting that the Richat Structure is a remnant of an ancient civilization that has since vanished, but none of these claims have gained formal recognition.
Today, the most widely known theory was proposed in 2014 by two Canadian geologists, Guillaume Matton and Michel Jébrak, following a series of in-depth studies. They believe that this structure was formed by geological changes over 100 million years ago.
According to Michel Jébrak, a professor at the University of Quebec in Montreal specializing in mineral resources, the supercontinent Pangaea split apart, separating Africa and South America. Magma gradually pushed its way to the Earth’s surface unevenly, creating a dome of rock layers, akin to a “giant acne”. This also resulted in fractures passing through the ‘eye.’
About 100 million years ago, a violent eruption occurred, collapsing this dome. Subsequently, erosion from wind and time shaped what we now recognize as the Eye of the Sahara. Each circle consists of different types of rocks, which erode at different rates. The lighter-colored circle near the center of the eye is volcanic rock produced during that explosion.
Location of the Eye of the Sahara from space. (Image: NASA).
Here, Michel Jébrak has also identified four types of rocks: kimberlites, located about 150 km below the Earth’s surface, which sometimes contain diamonds; carbonatites; black basalt; and rhyolite, all of which are found deep beneath the Earth’s crust.
However, this viewpoint remains highly controversial. To date, there has been no truly convincing reason to explain why the structure has such a perfect circular shape.
In addition to scientific explanations, many hypotheses suggest that the Eye of the Sahara may hold the key to the lost city of Atlantis, a fictional island first mentioned by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato over 2,300 years ago.
According to Plato, the mythical island existed about 9,000 years before his time and mysteriously vanished. Stories recount that the city sank into the sea after an earthquake or tsunami, with some tales suggesting that Atlantis extended across the Mediterranean Sea to Crete, the largest island in Greece. Edgar Cayce, a Christian mystic from the United States, believed that Atlantis and the continent of Eurasia were of comparable size.
Some hypothesize that the Eye of the Sahara may be the answer to the lost city of Atlantis. (Illustrative image).
Plato described Atlantis as having a central island surrounded by various rings, including water rings that resemble the Eye of the Sahara. Researchers even believe that a large amount of water once flowed from the Eye of the Sahara, suggesting it may have been surrounded by water like Atlantis.
According to legend, the city of Atlantis was built by the Sea God Poseidon. He traveled the world searching for the largest island until he found Atlantis, home to the most beautiful and intelligent people. There, the god fell in love with Cleito. To protect his beloved, Poseidon placed the city atop a secluded hill in the sea and named it Atlantis.
Coincidentally, the Eye of the Sahara is also described as “lying in the shadow of the mountains to the north, where rivers flow down into a vast valley”, resembling the supposed final location of Atlantis.
While many still regard Atlantis as merely a myth, various theories suggest that the allegorical tale is based on real events. Meanwhile, there has been no truly convincing reason to clarify why the Eye of the Sahara has such a perfectly circular shape.
Viewing the complete “eye” is a rare opportunity that only a few out of billions of people on Earth have had. These include astronauts and scientists on space missions, but many tourists and researchers still aspire to set foot in this extraordinary land.
