Population numbers: 872,932
How many square miles: 8,958 square miles
Geography fast facts (uniqueness):
- At 23,200 square kilometers (8,958 square miles), Djibouti is the third smallest country in continental Africa, after Swaziland (second smallest) and Gambia (smallest).
- Djibouti is just a little smaller than the state of Massachusetts.
- Lac Assal of Djibouti is the saltiest lake outside of Antarctica. It is even saltier than the famous Dead Sea.
- Not only is Lac Assal (Lake Assal) the lowest point in Djibouti, it is also the lowest point in the continent of Africa.
- Djibouti is located in Eastern Africa, between Somalia and Eritrea, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
- Djibouti enjoys proximity to few of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. Apart from the closeness to the lanes, the country is also close to the Arabian oilfields.
- Another famous lake located in Djibouti is Lake Abbe. This lake is also famous as the place of the discovery of Australopithecus skeleton Lucy. It was founded during the Afar depression in 1974. The lake is also known for its limestone vents and flamingos.
- The Danakil Desert is a lowland geothermal region which covers much of western Djibouti. The Danakil Desert extends into Ethiopia and Eritrea. Erta Ale is a volcano that settles in the Danakil Desert.
- Along with Mount Mabla, the Forêt du Day National Park is one of Djibouti’s two remnant areas of closed forest. This is the largest forest in Djibouti. The most valuable part of national park is 900 ha large stand of East African junipers Juniperus procera which grows in the heights above 950 m.
- Moucha Island is a small coral island off the coast of Djibouti. It is located at the center of the Gulf of Tadjoura. Moucha Island is the largest island in Djibouti. Less than 3 km long, Moucha Island’s mainland is surrounded by the smaller Maskali Islands, a few islets and a coral reef.
Capital City: Djibouti City is the capital and largest city of Djibouti, which is named after it. It is located in the coastal Djibouti Region on the Gulf of Tadjoura. Djibouti City has a population of around 529,000 inhabitants.
Religion: Religion. More than nine-tenths of the population is Muslim; nearly all adhere to the Sunni branch of Islam. Some Christian religions are represented in Djibouti, including Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism.
