Nearly all the area of 21 883 square kilometres is covered by a volcanic desert, only seldom you can find here plateaus and highlands. The country is situated in the eastern part of Africa.

The capital of Djibouti is called Djibouti and about two thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital. They are divided between the Issas (from Somalia) who form the majority and the Afars, from whom comes the name of the state.

They called the land Gabod, which means plateaus and which French people later transformed to Djibouti.

History and Economy

This place controls the access to the Red Sea, which ensured that it has never been absent of a steady flow of foreign assistance. Between the 16th and the second half of the 19th century the area was a part of the Ottoman Empire. In 1862 it was conquered by France. On 27th June 1977 Djibouti gained its full independency. But then the conflicts grew larger and led to a civil war, but in 1991 peace was established due to the intervention of France. Djibouti city handles Ethiopian imports and exports, but not only Ethiopian. Many landlocked countries in Africa use the Djibouti’s transport facilities to fly in their goods for re-export, which earns them very needed transit taxes and harbour fees for Djibouti.

Geography

There are mountains in the middle of the country that divide the coastal plain and a plateau. Because of the absence of arable land, irrigation or permanent crops, nor even forests, just the geothermal energy belongs to the natural resources. Unique travertine chimneys can be found at several locations. Djibouti is one of the hottest places on Earth with its average temperature around 32 °C.

People

Very interesting are some features of the typical clothing of the people in Djibouti. Men are supposed to wear wrapped piece of cloth that reaches about the knee and also cotton robe to cover their shoulders, quite similar to Roman toga. Women should wear skirts, typically brown. Those women who are married cover their heads with a cloth in contrast to the women who are not married or very young.

Very much of the traditional and original Djibouti’s art is passed on orally. For this they use mainly songs in their native language. The French and Islamic influence is notable in the architecture of their buildings.