Lake Abbé is a salt lake on the border between Djibouti and Ethiopia. It is the ultimate destination of the waters of the Awash River. The lake used to be much higher, and had hot mineral springs on the floor. These underwater hot springs built up limestone chimneys on the bottom of the lake. Subsequently, the water level of the lake dropped, leaving the chimneys on dry ground. It is a bizarre looking landscape, which was used as scenery for the film "Planet of the Apes".
View of the limestone chimneys at Lac Abbé from a distance. (525k) View of the limestone chimneys at Lac Abbé. (811k) View of limestone chimneys at Lac Abbé. (996k) View of limestone chimneys at Lac Abbé. (546k) View of limestone chimneys at Lac Abbé. (613k) View of limestone chimneys at Lac Abbé. (660k) View of limestone chimneys with hot spring at Lac Abbé. (734k) The largest limestone chimney formation, about 50 m (160 ft) high. (773k) Limestone chimney. (812k) Limestone chimney. (526k) Limestone chimney. (810k) Closeup of the limestone. The crust was formed by bacteria while the chimney was still under water. It stabilized the chimney, without it they crumble immediately. (1268k) Sunset over the limestone chimneys. (481k) Hot spring. (704k) Hot spring. Local people use them for cooking food. (983k) Demonstration of how hot the hot springs are. (1147k) Demonstration of how hot the hot springs are. (1133k) Demonstration of how hot the hot springs are. (1154k)
Lac Assal
Lac Assal is a salt lake in northern Djibouti. It is the lowest point in Africa at 155 m (509 ft) below sea level, making it the third lowest point on earth, after the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee. It is the world's largest salt reserve, which is exploited at the southeast end of the lake. Recently, a new concession was awarded to a US company.
View of Lac Assal. (607k) River flowing into Lac Assal. It is swollen due to recent heavy rains. (958k) Lac Assal with different colors, due to different salt deposits. (797k) Salt formations on Lac Assal. (687k) Salt formations on Lac Assal. (816k) Close-up of salt formation on Lac Assal. (602k)
Djibouti Nature
I saw quite a few birds. The Dorcas Gazelle ssp. pelzelniis were a bit of a surprise in the desert.
Interesting features were the limestone chimneys on Lac Abbé, and the salt formations on Lac Assal.
For me the most interesting thing to see was the rift between the African plate and the Asian plate. The two plates move apart at about 2 cm (0.8") pro year. You can see the rift clearly in several places, the most obvious was in a road, that needs to be constantly patched because of the increasing rift.
Landscape near Lac Abbé after recent rains. (735k) Landscape near Lac Abbé. (992k) Landscape near Lac Assal, with a helicopter flying through the valley. (674k) Landscape near Lac Assal. (1020k) Devil's Island in the Gulf of Tadjoura. (526k) Volcanic formation near Lac Assal. (720k) Lava tube near Lac Assal. (1087k) Lava tube near Lac Assal. (877k) The rift between Asia and Africa. (878k) Another part of the rift between Asia and Africa. (1024k) The rift between Asia and Africa is widening by a couple of centimeters per year. You can see the rift on the road. (966k) Valley near Lac Assal. It is formed by the rifts between African plate, the Asian plate, and the Arabian plate. (859k) Acacias in the desert. (637k) Dragon Tree (Dracaena ombet). It is over 500 years old, according to my guide. (1266k) Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria, german: Wüstenheuschrecke, french: Criquet pèlerin). (948k) Gecko. (744k) Tortoise. (888k) North African Wolf (Canis lupaster lupaster, german: Afrikanischer Goldwolf, french: Loup d’Égypte). (507k) North African Wolf (Canis lupaster lupaster, german: Afrikanischer Goldwolf, french: Loup d’Égypte). (718k) North African Wolf cub enthusiastically greeting the returning parent (Canis lupaster lupaster, german: Afrikanischer Goldwolf, french: Loup d’Égypte). (739k) Dorcas Gazelles ssp. pelzelnii (Gazella dorcas pelzelnii, german: Dorkasgazelle, french: Gazelle dorcas) and Egyptian Geese. (665k) Dorcas Gazelles ssp. pelzelnii (Gazella dorcas pelzelnii, german: Dorkasgazelle, french: Gazelle dorcas). (668k) Male Dorcas Gazelle ssp. pelzelnii (Gazella dorcas pelzelnii, german: Dorkasgazelle, french: Gazelle dorcas). (782k) Dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius, german: Dromedar, french: Dromadaire) with baby. (1080k) Dromedary near Lac Abbé. (963k) Dromedary near Lac Abbé. (783k)
Dr. Günther Eichhorn Travel Website
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