The Garden of Eden in the Afar Depression: A Paleogeographical Hypothesis for the Four Rivers of Paradise

The biblical account of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8–15) describes a single river sourcing four branches—Pishon, Gihon, Hiddekel (Tigris), and Euphrates—yet no modern location perfectly matches this topography. This paper proposes the Afar Depression (Ethiopia/Djibouti/Eritrea) during the African Humid Period as the original setting, when expanded paleo-lakes (e.g., Lake Abbe reaching several times its current size) (Gasse, 2000; Chalachew et al., 2020) and interconnected drainages formed a central hydrological hub. The Awash River and its paleo-extensions converged in the depression before branching into four cardinal directions via seasonal/paleo-wadis: Gihon (modern Kalou wadi system, northwest toward Lake Assal and Ghoubbet-el-Kharab, linked to salt resources); Pishon (Ambouli tributaries, northeast through mineral-rich Ali Sabieh, associated with gold/onyx potentials) (USGS, 2014); Hiddekel (Arrédéri course, southeast to Gulf of Aden); and Phrat/Euphrates archetype (Guestir, south to ocean). Paleochannels visible in satellite imagery trace these patterns (e.g., remote sensing studies in arid rift zones). The Mesopotamian Tigris-Euphrates are interpreted as memorial namesakes, applied by migrants preserving the memory of a lost "paradise" disrupted by aridification (deMenocal, 2011; Tierney & deMenocal, 2013). Comparative echoes in Plato's Atlantis narrative (concentric rivers, island kingdom undone by cataclysm) (Plato, trans. 2008) suggest broader mythological transmission. This hypothesis reconciles textual details with paleogeographical evidence, positioning Eden in humanity's African cradle (White et al., 2003) while acknowledging its speculative, interpretive nature.