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The ' Eye of Africa ' , a geologic phenomenon in the Sahara Desert of Mauritania , a land in northern Africa , peers up in this satellite image .
The Richat structure , as it is also known , resembles a bull’s - oculus peeringout of the sand . The social organisation is 30 miles ( 50 kilometers ) in diam , big enough in the featureless Sahara that the other quad missions used it as a landmark .
This Envisat image shows a geological phenomena in the Sahara Desert of Mauritania in northern Africa: the remarkable circular Richat structure, which resembles an eye from space. Credits: ESA
Originally it was trust that the eye was formed by ameteor impact , now it is believed to be the termination of geologic upthrust that has been exposed over prison term by wind and urine wearing .
unlike rate of erosion on the varying rock type have form concentric ridges ; the more erosion - immune rocks forge mellow ridge ( blue and purple ) , while the non - resistant rocks form valleys ( yellow ) .
A plateau of aqueous sway forms the grim region besiege the Richat bodily structure . This plateau stands rough 656 feet ( 200 metre ) above the surrounding sand .
This Envisat image shows a geological phenomena in the Sahara Desert of Mauritania in northern Africa: the remarkable circular Richat structure, which resembles an eye from space. Credits: ESA
In addition to the eye , Mauritania ’s high peak can be seen in this image . The Kediet ej Jill Mountain is a magnetic mountain standing almost 3,281 feet ( 1,000 m ) high . It appear blue because it is composed entirely of magnetite , anatural charismatic kernel .
This guess was take on Nov. 1 by theEuropean Space Agency ’s Envisat artificial satellite .
A close-up of the Richat structure shows the concentric rings. Credits: ESA
