June
21
/ 2022
Tucked away in Mauritania, surrounded by the imposing, shifting dunes of the Sahara Desert, lies the Richat Structure. A spectacular rock formation of many names, the “Eye of the Sahara” has guided astronauts, inspired those seeking the lost city of Atlantis, and puzzled geologists. Yet, you could stroll through this magnificent geological feature without ever appreciating the concentric stone circles all around you. How has the Richat Structure, something visible only from space, generated so much discussion, curiosity, and awe? 1960s Gemini Astronauts First Saw the Richat Structure! The Richat Structure, or Guelb er Richat, lies a short distance from the town of Ouadane, which was once a hub of human learning in west-central Mauritania, on the west coast of
