DANAKIL SALT CARAVANS - ETHIOPIA

Salt is the only natural resource that we find in the region known as the Danakil Depression. A stony desert in the N.E. of Ethiopia. There are found infinite salt deposits at the banks of Lake Assal that have been exploited for centuries by the region’s inhabitants, known as ethnic Danakil or Affar.

This is a desert that is subjected to extremely elevated temperatures, below the level of the sea, up to 115 meters. One of the hottest points on the Earth, where working conditions reach the limits of human capacity.

Every day, early in the morning our anonymous heroes part towards the oven, towards the salts. They all live in Hammed Ale, the last village or habitable camp before entering that desolate sea of active volcanoes and lethal heat. Their job consists of extracting large planks with the help of long poles, using them as levers, enabling them to pull the salt from the base. A primitive, but practical method. Then, with a sharp axe, the large pieces are cut into smaller ones, 1 meter in diameter. From there on, it’s the carvers job to design “salt bricks”. These are perfectly rectangular and symmetrical pieces, that end up weighing between 12 and 15 Kilograms.

By then, the Camel caravans have arrived. They have been traveling for a week since they departed from towns near Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray Region. The only way to transport the salt is with the help of the camels; extremely tough animals well adapted to this environment, but they must be well taken care of with knowledge, or they will turn fragile. The caravans can reach up to 800 camels and 400 donkeys daily. They walk at a constant pace, without changing the rhythm, forming a line up to 2 Km long, all united by a cord and accompanied by their care-takers. The loads vary between 200 and 240 Kg per animal which are diligently and carefully loaded for their transport. At the end of each day, the camels are liberated of their salt bricks, so they may eat, drink and regain their forces.

The symbiotic relationship between the camel caravans and the salt miners is perfect. They maintain a balanced harmony to exploit a natural resource that is a way of life for all.

The final destination of the salt is to be sold in the markets of Mekelle and in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.