AFRICAN
CONSERVATION AND WEB SITES FOR AFRICA FROM
AFRICANWEBSITES.NET
PROFILE
ON DJIBOUTI
Relief
Map of Djibouti - 215K
The landscape of Djibouti is varied and extreme, ranging from rugged mountains
in the north to a series of low desert plains separated by parallel plateaus
in the west and south. Its highest peak is Mount Mousa at 6,768 feet (2,063
metres); the lowest point, which is also the lowest in Africa, is the saline
Lake Assal, 515 feet (157 metres) below sea level.
Located at the convergence of the African and Arabian tectonic plates, the
territory is geologically active. Slight tremors are frequent, and much of
the terrain is littered with basalt from past volcanic activity. Rainfall
is rare, and vegetation is minimal.
There are no regularly flowing surface watercourses in the republic. Cool-season
(October to April) daily maximum temperatures at Djibouti city average 87º
F (31º C); in the hot months 99º F (37º C) is the average
daily maximum. Temperatures increase and humidity drops in midsummer as the
arid khamsin wind blows off the inland desert.
The country's wildlife includes antelopes, gazelles, hyenas, jackals, and
ostriches. Offshore, Djibouti's waters teem with many species of marine life,
including tuna, barracuda, and grouper. Djibouti is virtually a city-state,
since about two-thirds of the population lives in or near the capital. Outlying
towns are small trading centres that experience periodic population increases
as camel caravans and sheep and goat herders
encamp.
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contact us please email
terry@africanconservation.org
