Of all the theories pointing us towards the location of Atlantis this is surely the most plausible. In so many ways it matches Plato's description of this great city, the most compelling of which I will list for you now, along with the reason why we can trust Plato's words.
The Richat Structure
Mauritania, Africa
Attracting attention since the earliest space missions this massive circular structure of rings (not visible from the ground) is also known as The Eye of the Sahara due to the way in which it resembles a pupil.
The entire structure measures over 40km and was originally thought to be an impact crater but upon closer inspection it became clear this was not the case.
Today's explanation
Despite the reality that no one really knows for sure how such a structure could have been formed naturally, today we are told on Wikipedia it is a deeply eroded geologic dome.
Look up geologic dome and you will find three possible explanations for their formation, all of which are complex and highly speculative.
From what I can tell they are suggesting it is something along the lines of giant bubbles of different types of molten rock pushing up from a central point in the ground.
It is worth noting there no other examples like this on Earth.
Plato
Born: 427 BC
In his published works the Critias & Timaeus dialogues he describes Atlantis and its surrounding area, even giving the date of its destruction.
His information came directly from the unpublished works of a decedent of his, a well respected Athenian statesman, lawmaker & poet.
Solon
Born: 640 BC
Particularly interested in the design of social systems he is regarded by some as the 'father of democracy'. Keen to learn as much as he could about the ancient cultures he visited Egypt where he was able to access the best historical records available. There he met an Egyptian high priest who translated hieroglyphs for him which described Atlantis, citing Egypt as once being a colony of this legendary island.
Solon documented the translation and it stayed in the family until Plato published it, some 200 years later.
Plato was a reputable philosopher and statesman and would not have risked his position by inventing a myth, especially when at that time, the hieroglyphs could have been verified first hand.
This tale about Atlantis, though strange, is certainly true, having been attested by Solon who was the wisest of the seven sages. Plato
Time frame
Based on the date given by Solon & Plato, the destruction of Atlantis would have happened 11,600 years ago. This is significant because the date fits perfectly with the Younger Dryas period in which we know the climate changed rapidly, taking us back into an ice age.
We also know there was a huge comet impact at this time (based on chemicals found in ice core samples) potentially causing a tsunami of unimaginable proportions.
In a single day & night of misfortune, the island of Atlantis disappeared into the depths of the sea. Plato
Looking at these images it is possible to imagine how this area might have been blasted by water which then receded back to the ocean. Whatever happened, there can be no doubt it was massive and dramatic.
Atlantis became an impassable barrier of mud to voyagers. Plato
The water level would have been much higher back then and the proposed island of Atlantis would be the area we perceive as mountains today, so if there was a big tsunami and the water then receded, it would make sense that there would be a massive amount of mud left around Atlantis, making it inaccessible as Plato describes.
Design
The key words upon which modern visions of Atlantis are built describe centric circles of water and land, specific in number.
There were alternate zones of sea and land, larger & smaller, encircling one another, there were two of land and three of water, which were turned as if with a lathe, each having its circumference equidistant every way from the center. Plato
He also described an isolated circle of land in the center.
As you can see Plato's description fits the Richat Structure perfectly.
Dimensions
The diameter of the second ring of land is mentioned by Plato as being 127 Stadia.
1 Stadia = 607ft, so the diameter would have been 23.49km
The odds of this being chance are small.
Colouring
Plato described a wall of tin and a wall of brass, encircling the main section.
Taking my research for this article beyond the two films I mention in my conclusion, I was curious to understand the strange colouring at the site.
Turns out this is the effect metal has on its surroundings when left to erode for many years.
Check out the colour of the rock at this copper mine in Utah.
Could it be that the blue colouring at the Richat structure is a result of the tin and brass walls which have spent the last 11,600 years dissolving into the ground?
Surrounding area
Plato described it as a lush land, which the Sahara desert is known to have once been.
The surrounding mountains of the city flowed with rivers. Plato
It is easy to see from this image where rivers used to flow down the mountains towards the structure.
The mountains of the island of Atlantis were celebrated for their number and their size and their beauty. Plato
Try to imagine what this must have looked like when it was lush and green, countless waterfalls cascading down those mountain cliffs which almost completely surround the structure. Would have been pretty spectacular.
Plato said that the city of Atlantis opened up to the sea at the south, which this structure does. Beneath you can see clearly where that opening would have been.
He also described the orientation:
This part of the island looked toward the south and was sheltered from the north. Plato
Another perfect match.
The country immediately surrounding Atlantis was a level plane, itself surrounded by mountains which descended toward the sea. Plato
Again, one only has to look at google earth to see the vast level plane around this double layer of mountains.
Water features
A well near the central acropolis provided the city with fresh water. Plato
Wouldn't you know it, there is a fresh water well at the centre which is still in use today, despite all other wells across this region of Mauritania producing salt water. A fact which further confirms how this site once met the sea.
In conclusion
It is interesting that Wikipedia doesn't once mention Atlantis on their Richat Structure page, nor do they mention the structure on the Atlantis page. Almost as if they are trying to keep people from making the connection?
This information has been around since 2011 when a team of people came up with most of what I have told you. They made a film and put it out there, but for one reason or another it has been seen by very few people.
You can see it in chapters here or if you are looking for something more recent, a popular YouTube user Bright Insight ten days ago made this summary which is currently taking the internet by storm (fast approaching 2M views), because let's face it, this subject seems to instinctively touch a chord with so many of us.
Atlantis was real and of all its proposed locations this one ticks so many of the boxes, it must surely be the genuine article.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
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