Viewed from above, this unusual rock structure in the center of Mauritania looks like a gigantic target waiting for arrows in the middle of the monotonous Sahara. The concentric rings of the so-called Richat structure extend over around 40 kilometers. In this satellite image from autumn 2025, the bulging outer edge of the chain of hills can be clearly seen, which, together with the inner rings, forms an unusual, geometric pattern.
For a long time the formation was considered a possible meteorite crater, but today we know that it was created purely geologically. The Richat structure is the result of subsoil uplift and subsequent erosion over millions of years. Harder rocks remained as distinctive rings, while softer sedimentary rocks eroded more strongly and formed ring-shaped “ravines”. Overall, the formation is probably at least 100 million years old.
There is also evidence of early settlement of the Richat structure. Archaeological finds, including hand axes, suggest that the area was visited by early humans. During the Second World War, pilots used the distinctive rings as orientation and since the Gemini 4 mission in 1965, the formation known as the “Eye of Africa” has also served as an important landmark for astronauts and satellites – and a popular photo motif.