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Comment by justhw | Hacker News Reader

Oh wow! I visited the Afar region in 2018. It's an incredible place. Pictures don't do it justice. Go if you can. Feels like being on Mars (not that we know). There are plenty of tour and travel groups that still go there. You will also get to sleep next to an active volcano (Ertale) on night 2. Be ready to hike. AMA if you're curious.

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"Go if you can"

But maybe check, if you have to pass through a war zone to get there:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_civil_conflict_(20...

Things seem to have calmed down a bit again, but there was very brutal violence going on since 2018.

I went to Ethiopia in 2015. Unfortunately we didn’t go to Dallol and the Danakil depression.

I have added it to my bucket list since I find deserts to be a fascinating environment.

I'm genuinely intrigued!

Any recommendations for tour companies? Do you have to bring your own tent? Any need for special masks/filters for volcanic gases?

Definitely do bring a mask and glasses. The volcanic acid is no joke. Everything else would be provided by the company. They usually have camels to carry your stuff as well. Check out a group called Ethio Hiking Community on Telegram. They go roughly once a month.

Masks and glasses!!?? Went there, and such gear feels like it would be not only completely useless but even plain dangerous as it would probably contribute to make your body overheat even faster.

I didn't need/have either but some people that had said it helped.

Imagine Earth but with human vision range extended much greater.

Wouldn't we see less far, since the distance to the horizon would be shorter?

I believe the comment you are replying to meant "with human vision expanded to see more frequencies of light" (i.e. infrared and ultraviolet)

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