On the night of the 20th July, Chris was still in northern Italy. A series of three poor quality fixes indicated that by the early morning of 23rd July, Chris had crossed into Africa and was in Chad, having undergone a lengthy migration of over 2,600 km in 55.5 hours.
The latest fixes put him around the rim of Tarso Voon, a 3,100m high Stratovolcano located in the central-western part of the Tibesti Mountains. This range of mountains are the largest in the central part of Sahara and contain numerous interesting natural and historical landmarks - but most are little investigated due to the nearly constant warfare in this region.
Although the volcanoes are inactive the volcanic landscape (take a tour here) is impressive. The most interesting geothermal features of Sahara are seen in Soborom geothermal field about 5km west of the rim of Tarso Voon where there are bubbling hot springs, steam jets and boiling mud pots. Local Toubou and other people from this part of Sahara come and stay for a few days in the natural resort to heal dermatitis or rheumatism. For healing, a pool, where water is some 42°C warm is used. The hottest spring pool is named Yerike - gas constantly rises from it and the pool is bubbling as if boiling. The temperature of springs in Soborom is between 22 and 88°C. In these areas sulphur and iron also emanate and both have coloured the soil in vivid colours.
The landscape is rugged (see here and here) and Chris can’t be spending much time here. To survive he must push on further southwards to the relative greenery of the Sahel.
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