The Afar people live in the Danakil desert in NE Ethiopia. This, on average, is the hottest place on Earth with temperatures, at times, exceeding 50 Celsius. They are desert dwellers and control the salt trade in the area. The Danakil is part of the Afar triangle and the Great East African Rift system and volcanoes and solfataras are commonplace. It was once part of the Red Sea but due to changes in the relative levels of land and sea the waters evaporated leaving thick salt deposits. Due to climatic extremes the Afar are amongst some of the most resilient people on Earth. The Afar, also known as the Danakil, Adali and Odali are a Cushitic speaking ethnic group inhabiting the Horn of Africa. They primarily live in the Afar region of Ethiopia and in northern Djibouti. As well as the southern coast of Eritrea. Afars are the only inhabitants of the Horn of Africa whose traditional territories border both the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. ​