Lips amidst the sand: A mysterious formation in the Sudanese desert baffles scientists and captivates attention.

Written by Omnia Hassan

A strange geological formation in the desert of western Darfur has sparked controversy.Sudan A wave of interest has emerged on social media and among those interested in earth sciences, after satellite images revealed an unusual appearance resembling “giant human lips” amidst the barren sands.

The striking formation appeared in images from the “Google Earth” program, where from above it looked like a pair of lips closed with amazing precision, prompting many to share its images and wonder about its nature and the reasons for its formation.

A surprising natural formation

This geological feature is known as “Closed Lips,” a natural rock formation that extends for nearly one kilometer in length and up to about 350 meters in width.

Although its shape suggests that it was carefully carved, geological studies indicate that it is the product of natural processes that lasted for thousands of years, during which wind and erosion played a major role in shaping it.

According to reports specializing in earth sciences, the soft rock layers were gradually eroded by the wind, while the harder rocks remained prominent in the middle, giving the formation its unique shape resembling human lips.

Ancient artifacts from underground

Researchers suggest that the prominent line in the middle of the formation may be the result of a “rock vein” that formed millions of years ago, when molten material rose from the Earth’s interior to the surface and then cooled and solidified over time.

As erosion continued, these hard rocks resisted erosion to a greater degree than the surrounding rocks, which contributed to the current shape remaining clear to this day.

Similar phenomena in Africa

This formation brings to mind other famous geological features in the African continent, most notably the “Eye of the Sahara” in Mauritania, which has attracted the attention of scientists and astronauts because of its giant circular appearance that can be clearly seen from space.

Experts believe that humans' attraction to such formations is not only related to their geological rarity, but also to a psychological phenomenon known as "pareidolia," which is the tendency of the human brain to interpret random shapes as familiar faces or features.

Dryness reveals the features of the lips.“

Recent satellite images indicate that the formation's features become more pronounced during periods of drought, when the surrounding vegetation is reduced, while some of its details disappear during wet seasons due to vegetation that softens the contrast between the rocks and sand.

Experts confirm that this discovery sheds new light on the hidden geological treasures of the African deserts, which still hold many amazing natural phenomena waiting to be discovered.