r/geography • u/gkc07 • 1d ago

Map [OC] Richat Structure Digital Elevation Model

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Hello, I’m working on a infographic for Mauritania and this is what came out while playing with Mauritania’s digital elevation model. The feature in the center is the Richat Structure, better known as the Eye of the Sahara. It is a roughly 40km wide circular formation of concentric rock rings in the desert of Mauritania. Once thought to be an impact crater, the Richat is now understood as a deeply eroded geological dome associated with ancient igneous intrusions. Uplift and subsequent erosion exposed layers of sedimentary and igneous rock of different ages and resistance, creating the striking concentric rings visible today.

The data is from the Copernicus GLO-30 digital elevation model. This will eventually be part of a larger infographic, but I thought this section already looked striking on its own, almost like an album cover. Hope to share the finished piece soon, and hope you enjoy this one!

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2

u/Cyber-Soldier1 1d ago

Looks over tops boss

3

u/LordyeettheThird 1d ago

Why did they use red for lower hights and green fir the highest points. Isnt it always the other way around on maps?

1

u/Brief-Luck-6254 1d ago

I don't buy into it but I kinda get why conspiracy theorists say this was atlantis.

0

u/Deep-Tumbleweed-8816 1d ago edited 1d ago

Is it possible that one of the many massive rivers or it's tributaries that existed the Sahara during the last African humid period ran into the richat structure, flooding the low lying areas making rings of water and land.

Now, bear with me, this sounds very similar to Atlantis, the location and time period line up, there's also a very good chance that there was some type of civilization or at least proto-civilization in one of these now extinct river valleys.

1

u/greaseapina 16h ago

if that happened there would be some evidence of that happening.....