Discover Djibouti: 12 Amazing and Unique Fun Facts You Never Knew!

1. The Saline Dream Spa

If you've heard of The Dead Sea Spa but can't afford the trip, Djibouti's got your back with their very own "Saline Dream": Lake Assal is not only the lowest point in Africa, but the third lowest on Earth and the fourth most saline body of water in the world. Its salt is even harvested for commercial use, and the lake's unique ecological features could land it a spot on the World Heritage Site list.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Linguistic Chuckle Extravaganza

You know what they say: the more languages you speak, the more times you can make people laugh! Djibouti shows us that language barriers are just opportunities for a multi-lingual chuckle extravaganza: being home to numerous languages like Somali, Afar, Arabic, and French, with a side of Omani Arabic, Amharic, and even Somali Sign Language for extra taste - this nation is truly a linguistic smorgasbord!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Discover how coffee beans are the real beanstalks in Ethiopia, supporting the livelihoods of over 15 million people with their top export. ☕🌱

=> Fun Facts about Ethiopia

3. Party with Vibrant Salty Waters

If you're ever feeling salty, head on over to Djibouti's Lake Assal for the ultimate party with their vibrant salty waters: This African wonder claims the title of the third-lowest point on Earth, while boasting a salinity level 10 times higher than the ocean, shifting colors throughout the day from blinding white to mesmerizing turquoise and emerald, all thanks to an incredible abundance of salt and sodium chloride deposits.
Source => earth.esa.int

4. Baby Whale Shark Hangout

Beware of pint-sized marine giants lurking in Djibouti's waters – they're not your average sharks, they're the babies of the bunch: Djibouti is home to the world's youngest whale sharks, averaging a tiny (for them) 4 meters in length, with some itty-bitty 2-meter long toddlers that could be just two years old.
Source => oceanographicmagazine.com

5. Margarita Salt Paradise

Looking for a salt supplier for your next margarita party? Djibouti's got you covered: This tiny nation in the Horn of Africa is home to Lake Assal, one of the world's saltiest bodies of water, boasting a concentration ten times higher than your average seawater – bad news for fish, but excellent news for your salty cocktail cravings.
Source => en.numista.com

6. Narrow Waters of Gossip

Behold, the narrow waters of gossip! These babbling arteries of precious black gold spill all sorts of ancient secrets: The Bab-el-Mandeb strait linking Djibouti and Yemen is a key passageway for oil (3.3 million barrels daily in 2006), while archaeologists whisper of the narrowest point being a witness to some of humanity's earliest fashionably late arrivals on Asia's southern shores.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Commitment-Phobe Winds

In Djibouti, even the winds have commitment issues: they just can't decide whether to blow strong or take it easy! Jokes aside, this tiny nation experiences major seasonal variation in wind speeds, with an average of 7.2 mph in the calmer month of May, escalating to a breezy 12.6 mph in January, spanning a windy period of 2.4 months from June to September – all thanks to its unique topography and climate influences.
Source => weatherspark.com

8. Cradle of Humankind Express

All aboard the Cradle of Humankind Express, where history meets the rails: The 753 km long Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, connecting Ethiopia's capital to the Port of Djibouti, is electrified, has 45 stations, and became commercially operational in 2018, serving as Ethiopia's main lifeline for over 90% of its international trade.
Source => gihub.org

9. Military Soiree Central

Who says Djibouti doesn't enjoy a good international soiree? This tiny nation has rolled out the red carpet for some of the world's top military might: Hosting an impressive lineup of foreign military bases, Djibouti pops the cork for France's French Foreign Legion, as well as parties from Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States; making it the strategic pièce de résistance in the Horn of Africa!
Source => rspn.org

10. Smokin' Hotspot of Lake Abbe

Talk about a smokin' hotspot: Lake Abbe in Djibouti boasts towering limestone chimneys up to 50 meters high, belching steam and providing one heck of a backdrop for Charlton Heston's "Planet of the Apes" back in '68. No monkey business, just an otherworldly landscape tucked away in the Afar Depression!
Source => wandersmiles.com

11. Antelope & Gazelle Dance Party

Get ready to antelope and gazelle your way through Djibouti's Grand Bara Desert, where the wildlife shindig's got more bounce than a Miley Cyrus double-time workout: Home to unique species like the Beira antelope, Dorcas gazelle, soemmerring's gazelle, salt Dik-Dik, and the gerenuk, this desert is also the site for a 300 MW solar plant, serving up renewable energy and job opportunities to match the country's ambitious 100% renewable consumption goals.
Source => worldatlas.com

12. Intercontinental Flavor Crusader

If Djibouti's cuisine were a superhero, it'd be the deliciously mysterious "Intercontinental Flavor Crusader": A tantalizing blend of Somali, Afar, Yemeni, and French influences, with a dash of South Asian flair, joining forces to delight taste buds using Middle Eastern spices like saffron and cinnamon.
Source => nationalfoods.org