In one of the driest parts of the Sahara, dark rocky mountains rise sharply from pale desert sand. Among these striking formations is Jabal Arkanu, known for its unusual ring-shaped patterns, reported NASA.

The photograph taken from the International Space Station (ISS) offers a clear and detailed look at this rare geological feature.

Jabal Arkanu, also known as Arkenu, is located in southeastern Libya, near the Egyptian border. Several other mountain ranges surround it, including Jabal al-Awaynat, about 20 kilometres to the southeast, and the Arkenu Formations, about 90 kilometres to the west.

It was previously believed that these circular structures were formed by meteorite impacts. However, subsequent field studies revealed that they are entirely the result of Earth's natural geological processes.

According to scientists, these rings formed when magma rising from within infiltrated surrounding rocks. This process occurred multiple times, creating interconnected circular rings whose centres appear to be tilted approximately southwest.

Source:Ndtv