In pictures: Camel Train

Aurovon · June 30th, 2006, 10:24 AM

For several months every year, traders from the Ethiopian Highlands make the arduous journey north to the Danakil Desert with their camels in search of salt. This year BBC Radio 4 accompanied the camel train on its journey.

The Danakil Depression is one of the lowest places on Earth and is a cauldron of volcanic activity. At the summit of an extraordinary outcrop of iron, salt and sulphur are strange formations resembling coral reefs.

At the heart of the salt harvest, lifters use rough wooden poles to lever up slabs of salt which are then cut into blocks. Like the camel men, the lifters travel up to 150 miles from the Ethiopian Highlands to work in the salt fields.

The camels wait patiently to be loaded with blocks of salt for the long journey back to the Highlands. On any single day, up to 3,000 camels might arrive in the Danakil.

On the volcanic outcrop, the BBC team’s guides, Ali Amin and Abdullah Ali Nur, sit uncomfortably close to a pool of sulphuric acid!

On the 120 mile journey to the Danakil there are only two opportunities for camels to drink. The camel men live on bread, water and tea.

The town of Berahile is a meeting point for camel trains on the way down to the Danakil and those returning with salt. As evening falls, hundreds of camels and donkeys halt in a dry river bed on the edge of the village for a few hours' rest.

A camel train laden with salt makes the slow haul up the escarpment and back into the Highlands. Each camel can carry up to 20 five-kilogram blocks.

In Dessa the salt is unloaded while camels and camel men take a few hours to rest and eat.

Camels wait impatiently for their food to be brought down from the roofs of the village huts where it is stored.

Matthew Parris describes his journey with the salt traders in Camel Train on BBC Radio 4 on Friday 30 June at 1100 BST. Or go to www.bbc.co.uk/radio4 to listen again later.

Source

NYzNiCCa · June 30th, 2006, 11:20 AM

camels are awesome! i wanna ride em.

Aurovon · June 30th, 2006, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYzNiCCa

camels are awesome! i wanna ride em.

Yeah I want to ride one as well.

WhatDidYouSay!? · June 30th, 2006, 11:55 AM

Pool of sulphuric acid, bloody hell...
I wouldn't go anywhere near that... Might fall in

But amazing pics... really cool...
Didn't there were places like that...

I've been on a camel before.... There so funny...

**xbadkarmax** · June 30th, 2006, 11:55 AM

I almost thought it said 'In Pictures: Camel Toe'

**JOHNNY K-BAR** · June 30th, 2006, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurovon

Yeah I want to ride one as well.

Its fun for a minute...As a kid I always wondered why people walk next to the camels intead of riding them...one day I found my answer, its a bumpy ride and leads to a sore ass and sore balls...In my opinion Horses ride smoother.

**BaByGirL24** · June 30th, 2006, 11:41 PM

i got on a camel one day when i was a kid...and its sharp pointy back bone hurt my cherry

sono_star · July 1st, 2006, 12:12 AM

i remember this pic that my dad took of me when I was a real little baby riding on a camel. i looked so funny on it

Bazpuria · July 1st, 2006, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOHNNY K-BAR

Its fun for a minute...As a kid I always wondered why people walk next to the camels intead of riding them...one day I found my answer, its a bumpy ride and leads to a sore ass and sore balls...In my opinion Horses ride smoother.

QFT!!!

I went on a ride once, and that was the last time.

June 30th, 2006, 10:24 AM	#1
Aurovon Banned Join Date: Mar 17 2004 Location: Houston Posts: 47,710 Reputation: 0 --> Rep Power: 0 Casino cash: $1000	In pictures: Camel Train For several months every year, traders from the Ethiopian Highlands make the arduous journey north to the Danakil Desert with their camels in search of salt. This year BBC Radio 4 accompanied the camel train on its journey. The Danakil Depression is one of the lowest places on Earth and is a cauldron of volcanic activity. At the summit of an extraordinary outcrop of iron, salt and sulphur are strange formations resembling coral reefs. At the heart of the salt harvest, lifters use rough wooden poles to lever up slabs of salt which are then cut into blocks. Like the camel men, the lifters travel up to 150 miles from the Ethiopian Highlands to work in the salt fields. The camels wait patiently to be loaded with blocks of salt for the long journey back to the Highlands. On any single day, up to 3,000 camels might arrive in the Danakil. On the volcanic outcrop, the BBC team’s guides, Ali Amin and Abdullah Ali Nur, sit uncomfortably close to a pool of sulphuric acid! On the 120 mile journey to the Danakil there are only two opportunities for camels to drink. The camel men live on bread, water and tea. The town of Berahile is a meeting point for camel trains on the way down to the Danakil and those returning with salt. As evening falls, hundreds of camels and donkeys halt in a dry river bed on the edge of the village for a few hours' rest. A camel train laden with salt makes the slow haul up the escarpment and back into the Highlands. Each camel can carry up to 20 five-kilogram blocks. In Dessa the salt is unloaded while camels and camel men take a few hours to rest and eat. Camels wait impatiently for their food to be brought down from the roofs of the village huts where it is stored. Matthew Parris describes his journey with the salt traders in Camel Train on BBC Radio 4 on Friday 30 June at 1100 BST. Or go to www.bbc.co.uk/radio4 to listen again later. Source

June 30th, 2006, 11:55 AM	#5
xbadkarmax ツ Tournaments Won: 94 Join Date: Apr 15 2004 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 36,823 Reputation: 218830572 --> Rep Power: 21883226 Casino cash: $35986	I almost thought it said 'In Pictures: Camel Toe' __________________ www.modelmayhem.com/solsticephoto Photography www.modelmayhem.com/solstice Professional Retoucher

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June 30th, 2006, 11:20 AM	#2
NYzNiCCa lamer Join Date: Feb 26 2005 Location: l3itchasses get butthurt so they lame people. Posts: 20,964 Reputation: 10 --> Rep Power: 0 Casino cash: $1000	camels are awesome! i wanna ride em.

June 30th, 2006, 11:55 AM	#4
WhatDidYouSay!? I <3 Mr T Join Date: May 9 2005 Posts: 5,354 Reputation: 10 --> Rep Power: 40 Casino cash: $1000	Pool of sulphuric acid, bloody hell... I wouldn't go anywhere near that... Might fall in But amazing pics... really cool... Didn't there were places like that... I've been on a camel before.... There so funny...

June 30th, 2006, 11:41 PM	#7
BaByGirL24 VIP Member Join Date: Jan 21 2005 Posts: 21,137 Reputation: 10 --> Rep Power: 104 Casino cash: $1500	i got on a camel one day when i was a kid...and its sharp pointy back bone hurt my cherry

July 1st, 2006, 12:12 AM	#8
sono_star Can't Stay Away Join Date: Jun 28 2006 Posts: 1,789 Reputation: -76723744 --> Rep Power: 0 Casino cash: $3037	i remember this pic that my dad took of me when I was a real little baby riding on a camel. i looked so funny on it

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