Adrar Region, Mauritania
Eye of the Sahara — The Richat Structure
A giant 40 km bullseye in the Mauritanian desert, famous from space and reachable by 4x4 from Ouadane.
What is the Eye of the Sahara?
The Richat Structure, better known as the Eye of the Sahara or the Eye of Africa, is a vast circular formation of concentric rock rings about 40 kilometres across, in the Adrar region near Ouadane. Astronauts used it as a landmark, and satellite images made it world-famous.
Geologists explain it as an eroded dome of layered rock rather than an impact crater. That has not stopped it from attracting all kinds of theories — including claims that it is the lost city of Atlantis — which is one reason it is one of the most searched places in Mauritania.
What you see on the ground
Because it is so large, the full circle is only visible from the air. On the ground you drive across its ridges and valleys, stop at viewpoints on the rings and camp under some of the darkest night skies in the Sahara. The combination with the medieval caravan town of Ouadane, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, makes it a rewarding two- to three-day trip.
How to visit the Richat Structure
The Eye of the Sahara is reached by 4x4 from Ouadane, which itself is a long drive from Atar or Chinguetti. Permits and a local driver-guide are strongly recommended in this remote area. We can add the Richat Structure and Ouadane to a Chinguetti tour — message us on WhatsApp for a custom itinerary.
Eye of the Sahara (Richat Structure) in Photos
Eye of the Sahara (Richat Structure): Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the Eye of the Sahara from the ground?
Not as a full circle — it is about 40 km across. On the ground you drive across its rock rings and see them from viewpoints; the famous bullseye shape is only visible from the air or space.
Where is the Eye of the Sahara?
In the Adrar region of Mauritania, near the town of Ouadane, north-east of Chinguetti.
Is the Richat Structure Atlantis?
There is no scientific evidence for that. Geologists describe it as an eroded dome of layered rock, but the Atlantis theory has made it famous online.
More places to discover in Mauritania
Tailor-made trips
Want a tour built around you?
Every itinerary here can be changed: your own dates, a private departure for your family or friends, more days in the desert, or extras like the Eye of the Sahara and Ouadane. Tell us what you want to see and we will design it.