The Diverse Landscape

Djibouti's landscape is diverse and extreme, ranging from rugged mountains in the north to low desert plains separated by parallel plateaus in the west and south. At 6,654 feet, Mount Moussa is its highest point (2,028 metres). The saline Lake Assal, which is also the lowest point in Africa, is 509 feet (155 metres) below sea level.

The country is known around the world as a geologic treasure trove. The country has significant seismic and geothermal activity due to its location at a triple juncture of the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and East African rift systems. Slight tremors are common, and the terrain is littered with basalt from previous volcanic activity. The eruption of the Ardoukoba volcano in November 1978, complete with spectacular lava flows, drew the attention of volcanologists all over the world.

The tremendous seismic activity that accompanied the eruption, which caused the plates between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula to widen by more than a metre, was of particular interest. This causes the land to have the appearance of a moonlike landscape that will take your breath away. This is one of reasons to visit Djibouti.