Djibouti

I

Introduction

Djibouti, republic in the Horn of Africa, formerly French Territory of the Afars and the Issas. Also called Jibuti, it is bounded on the east by the Gulf of Aden; on the south-east by Somalia; on the south and west by Ethiopia; and on the north by Eritrea. It is strategically located on the busy shipping lanes of the Bab el Mandeb, the strait that links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Little more than an enclave, it has an area of about 23,200 sq km (8,958 sq mi). The capital is also called Djibouti.

II

Land and Resources

Djibouti consists principally of arid plateaux. Inland, the terrain is broken by a series of salt-water basins. To the north of the Gulf of Tadjoura, which deeply indents the country’s coast, lie several mountain ranges with heights of about 1,525 to 1,830 m (5,000 to 6,000 ft).

A

Climate

Djibouti has a hot desert climate. The average annual temperature in the capital city is 30° C (86° F). Annual rainfall ranges from 127 mm (5 in) in Djibouti city to about 380 mm (15 in) in the mountains. Droughts and flash flooding are a constant threat.

B

Natural Resources

There are few natural resources; limited deposits of copper, gypsum, and iron ore exist but are not exploited. The country is rich, however, in geothermal resources, which began to be developed in 1986 with the help of foreign aid. Natural gas has been discovered.