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Djibouti City is the capital and largest city in Djibouti. Two thirds of the country's population lives in this seaport, which is situated on the Gulf of Tadjoura on the western side of the Gulf of Aden. The city is the cultural and industrial center of Djibouti and has the status of both a city and a state. Local features include beautiful sandy beaches along its eastern shore (top). The landscape around the city, along with Djibouti's coastal lowlands, is desert or semi-desert. Image courtesy of NASA.

Djibouti City is the capital and largest city in Djibouti. Two thirds of the country's population lives in this seaport, which is situated on the Gulf of Tadjoura on the western side of the Gulf of Aden. The city is the cultural and industrial center of Djibouti and has the status of both a city and a state. Local features include beautiful sandy beaches along its eastern shore (top). The landscape around the city, along with Djibouti's coastal lowlands, is desert or semi-desert. Image courtesy of NASA.

This near-vertical photograph shows Lac Assal (Lake Assal) in Djibouti, the third lowest surface in the world (excluding the ocean basins) and the lowest point in Africa at 155 m (510 ft) below sea level. Lake Assal sits in a rift valley, a depression where the earth's crust has split and adjacent areas have moved with respect to one another. The lake is located in the Danakil Desert near the western end of the Gulf of Aden. Because Lac Assal has no outlet, it is ten times saltier than the ocean and is the most saline body of water in the world. The evaporation rate of Lake Assal is very high because summer temperatures sometimes reach 52°C (125°F), and are accompanied by strong dry winds. The surrounding plain (visible on the image to the right of the lake), once the lake floor, is a glistening expanse of salt. The region surrounding the lake is mostly a stony desert with isolated plateaus and highlands. Lava flows from an ancient volcano are visible just to the left near the shore of the lake. Image courtesy of NASA.

This near-vertical photograph shows Lac Assal (Lake Assal) in Djibouti, the third lowest surface in the world (excluding the ocean basins) and the lowest point in Africa at 155 m (510 ft) below sea level. Lake Assal sits in a rift valley, a depression where the earth's crust has split and adjacent areas have moved with respect to one another. The lake is located in the Danakil Desert near the western end of the Gulf of Aden. Because Lac Assal has no outlet, it is ten times saltier than the ocean and is the most saline body of water in the world. The evaporation rate of Lake Assal is very high because summer temperatures sometimes reach 52°C (125°F), and are accompanied by strong dry winds. The surrounding plain (visible on the image to the right of the lake), once the lake floor, is a glistening expanse of salt. The region surrounding the lake is mostly a stony desert with isolated plateaus and highlands. Lava flows from an ancient volcano are visible just to the left near the shore of the lake. Image courtesy of NASA.

Lake Assal is a crater lake at the top of the Great Rift Valley, some 120 km west of Djibouti city. A saline lake, it lies 155 m below sea level in the Afar Triangle. It is the lowest depression on the African continent and is one the world's largest salt reserves.

Lake Assal is a crater lake at the top of the Great Rift Valley, some 120 km west of Djibouti city. A saline lake, it lies 155 m below sea level in the Afar Triangle. It is the lowest depression on the African continent and is one the world's largest salt reserves.

A city street in Djibouti. Less than half of Djibouti’s road network is paved. Primary routes include northern and southern links to the capital. Some roads are calm enough to allow a safe crossing for goats.

A city street in Djibouti. Less than half of Djibouti’s road network is paved. Primary routes include northern and southern links to the capital. Some roads are calm enough to allow a safe crossing for goats.

Lake Abbe, also known as Lake Abhe Bad, is a salt lake on the border of Ethiopia and Djibouti. Lake Abbe is the center of the Afar Depression and is largely inaccessible. Stretching for 10 km (6 mi) it comprises a vast landscape of salt flats, covered in clusters of massive, steam-blasting limestone chimneys. Other than Mount Dama Ali, a small dormant volcano, the landscape is almost completely level.

Lake Abbe, also known as Lake Abhe Bad, is a salt lake on the border of Ethiopia and Djibouti. Lake Abbe is the center of the Afar Depression and is largely inaccessible. Stretching for 10 km (6 mi) it comprises a vast landscape of salt flats, covered in clusters of massive, steam-blasting limestone chimneys. Other than Mount Dama Ali, a small dormant volcano, the landscape is almost completely level.

The whale shark is gigantic but harmless. The largest living shark, it grows slowly to lengths of 9 m and more and can live to be over 100 years old. Djibouti's coastal waters (Red Sea and Gulf of Aden) are some of the easiest places in the world to see whale sharks as the gentle giants feed on plankton near the water’s surface.

The whale shark is gigantic but harmless. The largest living shark, it grows slowly to lengths of 9 m and more and can live to be over 100 years old. Djibouti's coastal waters (Red Sea and Gulf of Aden) are some of the easiest places in the world to see whale sharks as the gentle giants feed on plankton near the water’s surface.

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