5 Facts of Djibouti

The capital of Djibouti is Djibouti

Djibouti may be tiny, but it packs a lot of adventure within its boundaries for savvy travelers who know where to look. The nightlife in Djibouti City is surprisingly active, with great Ethiopian-style restaurants and lively dance clubs. The day-tripper has exciting options as well. Take a hike through the lush and forested Goda Mountains. Snorkel, surf and sun on the Gulf of Tadjoura. Explore the hot springs and amazing geological formations of Lac Abb'. Did you know the producers of the original Planet of the Apes filmed the movie around Lac Abb' to take advantage of its strange, otherworldly ambiance' Here are some other things you may not know about the dynamic African nation Djibouti.

5 Facts You Might Not Know

1

Djibouti is situated at the exact point where the Red Sea flows into the Indian Ocean. The reefs here are made up of over 200 coral species. Because of the temperature differential between these two bodies of water, plankton growth is so rich that many classes of marine mammals find Djibouti's coast an ideal place to winter. Among species found in abundance here are beaked and pilot whales, dolphins and whale sharks. Whale sharks are the world's largest fish.

2

At 500 feet below sea level, Lake Assal is the lowest point on the African continent, and after Death Valley and the Sea of Galilee, the third lowest point on the Earth's surface. Lake Assal itself is the world's largest salt reserve.

3

Lac Abb' owes its unique geology to the fact that it occupies the spot where three tectonic plates collide. The famous rock chimneys that give Lac Abb' its moonscape ambiance are the result of interactions between bubbling, subterranean hot springs and fault lines. The lake derives its name from the hot springs' distinctive sulfur smell. 'Abb' means 'rotten' in the local tongue.

4

Djibouti was one of the first places on the African continent to embrace Islam. Arab traders introduced the religion there in the 9th century, while Mohammad himself was still living.

5

Djibouti is a staunch American ally, and the site of the only American military base in all of sub-Saharan Africa.